Louisiana Falls Short Without Full Firepower

Louisiana was on a five game winning streak, but they didn't go into Coastal Carolina with their full arsenal of weapons.

The Ragin' Cajuns had to play without Simone Fields and Nekia Jones, who both sat out with a suspension from an altercation at App State, but they still played the Chanticleers down to the final possession. Coastal Carolina pulled out the 71-68 win, but Louisiana put on a valiant effort without two key pieces of the team on the court.

The game was tied in the final minute, but Coastal Carolina hit a couple three-pointers in rapid succession to take the lead. Jaylyn Gordon shaved that lead down to one point with under 30 seconds to play, but the Ragin' Cajuns couldn't make a final push to pick up the win.

Ced Gibson was excellent for the Chanticleers, tying her career-high with 26 points, and Coastal Carolina outshot the Cajuns 43 percent to 39 percent from the floor and oustscored them 18-11 at the free throw line.

Jaylyn Gordon led the way for Louisiana, as usual, with 18 points and four assists, and without Fields and Jones a couple other players stepped up.

Malachi Seraphin-Williams posted her second highest-scoring total of the season with 12 points, and she picked up a pair of steals too. Troi Swain was the only other Cajun to reach double-digits with 12 points, but the bench came up with 26 points in the effort.

If Fields and Jones were in the mix, Coastal Carolina might not have been able to hold the Ragin' Cajuns off. The suspensions were served though, and both players will be back on the court for the final chapter of the regular season for Louisiana.

The loss drops Louisiana to 16-9 and 10-6 in Sun Belt Conference play, and they now head back to the Cajundome for their final two games of the regular season against Texas State and UT-Arlington.

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