Fields Fuels Ragin’ Cajuns Rivalry Victory Over ULM

The Ragin' Cajuns might not have Jaylyn Gordon, but Simone Fields stepped up and put the team on her back against ULM for the rivalry win.

In the Cajuns 52-40 win at home in the Cajundome, Fields racked up 19 points (8-12 FG, 3-4 FT) and 10 rebounds on her way to a dominant double-double in the post, while the rest of the team only shot 14-36 (38.8%) from the floor. When outside shooters go 1-12 beyond the arc, it's on the post players to step it up. Fields was up to the task.

Defensively, the Cajuns put ULM on the free throw line ten times in the first quarter, but they cleaned things up as the game progressed for the win.

Even in a win, Head Coach Garry Brodhead can't ignore mistakes.

"In the first half, I thought we put them on the line too much," Brodhead said after the game. He started coming around though, "In the second half, we didn't foul as much. We took care of the ball and did some good things."

The Cajuns held a 26-20 lead heading into the half, and ULM kept pace with them in the third quarter, so their final separation came in the final quarter of the game, where they outscored the Warhawks, 14-8. They forced ULM into missing six of their last seven shots, and the Cajuns nailed their final three shot attempts of the night to seal the deal.

"In the fourth quarter we kind of settled down and took care of it," Brodhead said.

It was a quiet night for Keke Veal and Kia Wilridge, who combined for 15 points on 6-12 shooting. It was a game won in the paint, where the Cajuns also crushed the glass by outrebounding ULM 43 to 23.

After the game, Brodhead gave some love to an unsung hero. Gabby Alexander didn't register a single stat in her three minutes on the floor, but she gave some decent defensive energy, which was enough to get her some kudos from coach.

"She's been on our scout team the last few weeks and she's been tearing us up," Brodhead said.

Every contribution helps, no matter how small.

Without the potent scoring punch provided by Gordon in the backcourt, the Cajuns will look to replicate the gritty play against ULM moving forward. When Fields asserts herself in the paint, things simply get easier on the offensive end...and with how they play defense, that could be the magic spell the team needs.