UL Women Eliminated By Arkansas St., 63-61

The 2014-2015 season came to an end for Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajun women’s basketball team on Friday afternoon, after falling to the Arkansas St. Red Wolves, 63-61, in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans.

With the win, Arkansas St., the second-seed moves on the top-seeded UALR Trojans on Saturday night, while Louisiana has been eliminated.

The first half was close throughout, with the Red Wolves' biggest lead being four points, while the Cajuns held a thee-point advantage, for their biggest lead of the initial half.

Louisiana out-shot Arkansas St., 50%-46%, while the Red Wolves held a slim 15-14 rebounding edge over the first 20 minutes.

Kia Wilridge led the way for the Cajuns in the first half, scoring 8 points, while Jasmine Hunt had 7 points at the break for the Cajuns.

Louisiana scored the first nine points of the second half, to take a 39-30 lead, before Arkansas St. answered right back with a 14-0 run, to grab a 45-39 advantage with 11:57 to go.

With the score tied, 56-56, Kia Wilridge made good on a lay-up to give the Cajuns a 58-56 lead with 2:30 remaining, before the Red Wolves scored six-unanswered points, to take a 62-58 advantage with only :52 left.

On UL's next possession, Jaylin Gordon nailed a clutch three-pointer, to ge them to within one point, 62-61, with :40 to go.

After Hanna Qedan hit one of two free throws, extending the Arkansas St. lead to 63-61 with :09 to go, Louisiana had one final shot.

The Cajuns go the ball to Jaylin Gordon, whose three-pointer was just off the mark, as the Red Wolves held on to the 2-point win, and put an end to Louisiana's season.

Arkansas St. out-shot Louisiana from the field, 56%-47%, while also finishing with a 33-29 rebound advantage.

Hunt the way for the Red Wolves, finishing with 15 points and 9 rebounds, while Brown-Haywood added 15 points and 7 rebounds.

In a losing cause for the Cajuns, Veal finished with 18 points and 4 rebounds, while Wilridge chipped in with 14 points and 4 rebounds.

View the game box score.

With the victory, Arkansas St. improved to 23-9, while Louisiana ends their season with a record of 19-12.

The 19 wins are the most for the Cajuns since the 2005-2006 season.