UL Women Triumph Over Arkansas St., 69-57

UL junior guard Keke Veal

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun women's basketball team recorded a big Sun Belt Conference home win on Thursday, defeating the Arkansas St. Red Wolves, 69-57, at the Cajundome.

The victory, the fourth for Louisiana in their last five games, put an exclamation point on the final game of a three-game homestand.

The Cajuns led by as many as seven points in the first half, before taking a 36-33 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Louisiana out-shot Arkansas St. from the floor in the first half, 45%-44%, while being out-rebounded, 22-28, but forced nine turnovers.

Keke Veal led the way for the Cajuns over the first 20 minutes, with 11 points and three assists, while Jasmine Hunt had 10 points and six rebounds at the break for the Red Wolves.

With the game tied, 42-42, at the 10:28 mark of the second half, Louisiana went on a 13-6 run over the next 4:51, to extend their lead to 55-48 with 5:37 remaining.

From there, UL protected the ball, and hit the majority of their free throws, as they went on to the 12-point victory.

Arkansas St. out-shot Lousiana from the field, 45%-43%, while also finishing with a 37-36 rebounding edge, but the Cajuns forced 20 turnovers, and out-scored the Red Wolves from the free throw line, 13-6.

Veal led the way for the Cajuns, scoring 18 points, while Kia Wilridge and Robbie Brown were also both in double-figures, scoring 16 and 12, respectively.

Wilridge also provided nine rebounds, five assists, and a steal.

In a losing cause for the Red Wolves, Jasmine Hunt had 20 points and 9 rebounds, while Aundrea Gamble, who entered the game averaging over 20 points-per-game, finished with only 4 points, on a 2-of-11 shooting night from the floor.

View the game box score.

With the victory, Louisiana improved to 12-5, overall, and 4-4 in Sun Belt Conference play, while Arkansas St. slipped to 12-7, and 7-2, respectively.

The Cajuns return to action on Saturday, when they travel to take on Georgia St. in the opening game of a three-game road swing.