Seniors Shine In Ragin’ Cajuns Win Over Georgia State

Garry Brodhead’s seniors stepped up against Georgia State for a 65-60 win, and they only have one game left at the Cajundome.

Keke Veal is playing the best basketball of her career as a Cajun right now, but the first half was a different story on Thursday night. She had more turnovers (5) than points (2) at the half, but then the senior leader bounced back to score 18 of her 20 points in the second half in a comeback victory.

Veal’s backcourt mate, Kia Wilridge, moved into sixth place on the Ragin’ Cajuns all-time scoring chart with her 1,192^nd point scored. One of the most underappreciated athletes on campus also led the team with six assists and ripped down five rebounds. Another senior, Adrienne Prejean, set a career-high with 13 points and a season-high with eight rebounds. Brooklyn Arceneaux (a fifth year senior) added in 12 points, five boards and three assists, and her coach credited her for fantastic individual defense.

When your veterans play like that, the coach gets to sit back and enjoy the show.

“I’m excited for the seniors, they played really well. Defensively, that’s what it’s all about,” Brodhead said with his classic Cajun smile.

It was a vintage Brodhead defensive performance. His team hounded Georgia State into 25 turnovers, converting the mistakes into 28 points on the offensive end. Kia Wilridge collected six steals, exemplifying why she is the best on-ball defender in the Sun Belt Conference.

The most important takeaway came with under thirty seconds left, when Jodi Quinn stole the ball and got it to Veal before Georgia State could foul anybody else. Veal went to the line and delivered the daggers, and the Cajuns walked away with a big win heading into the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. There’s only one game left in the regular season, and it’s a big one for everyone involved with this basketball program.

This senior class came with Brodhead to Lafayette. They trusted his vision, and after a lot of hard work they changed the culture of the Ragin’ Cajuns Women’s Basketball program. They have the chance to do something nobody has ever done in their position.

“Saturday is senior night,” Brodhead articulated with some emotion. “If we can get another twenty win season, it would be the first time I can remember they went back to back twenty wins.”

Last season, his players broke the twenty win mark and won a postseason tournament. This year, they want to win the Sun Belt tournament and make it to the big dance. These seniors already reached new heights for Ragin’ Cajuns Women’s Basketball, so why can’t they go one step farther in their final run?

Coach Brodhead is far from a soft individual, but you might see his thick Cajun skin glistening with some tears this Saturday. He doesn’t want to let this moment get lost.

“I told myself this week that I was going to slow down and enjoy these kids and what they’ve done for this program,” Brodhead said. He will have one more chance to honor them in the Cajundome, but hopefully they cut down some nets in New Orleans to create keepsakes forever.