Second Half Surge Powers ASU Over Ragin’ Cajuns

Courtesy ASU Athletics Department

LAFAYETTE, La. (1/12/13) – Three Arkansas State players scored in double-figures, led by Jane Morrill’s 14 points to pace Arkansas State in a 48-39 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette in Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball action on Saturday night.

Morrill led all scores on the night and also added five rebounds and three steals, while Ashley Olvera scored 12 points. Hanna Qedan just missed her first career double-double, finishing the game with 10 points and nine rebounds. 

“We didn’t start the way we wanted, but we came back strong in the second half,” ASU head coach Brian Boyer said. “We had a fantastic start to the second half and really were able to carry that through for the rest of the game.” 

A-State (8-9, 5-3 Sun Belt Conference) started the second half on an 18-0 to start the to build a 32-15 advantage after scoring just 14 points in the first half. Morrill scored 10 points in the second half, including six points during the run. 

Louisiana-Lafayette’s (7-10, 1-7) first field goal of the second half came at the 10:23 mark on a layup from Sylvana Okde. Combined with a stretch in the first half, the Ragin’ Cajuns went 19:34 with just one field goal.

ULL’s 39 points is an opponent low for ASU and the Ragin’s Cajuns 28.1 field goal percentage was the second lowest that ASU has held an opponent to this season. ASU finished the game shooting 38 percent from the field, including 56 percent (14-25) in the second half. 

ASU dominated the second half and outscored ULL 34-24. ASU had a 48-39 edge on the boards and forced the Ragin’ Cajuns into 19 turnovers on the night.

The Ragin’ Cajuns went on an 8-0 run to pull within 46-39 with 13 seconds left in the game, but Olvera knocked down a pair of free throws to seal the game with 11 seconds to go.

Louisiana-Lafayette led 15-14 at halftime after both teams struggled to knock down shots in the first half. The teams combined to go just 11-52 from the field with the Red Wolves going 5-for-25 (20 percent).

The Red Wolves used a 10-0 run to take its only lead of the first half with 3:44 to go. Olvera knocked down a 3-pointer with pull A-State with 13-12 and then took a 14-13 advantage on a basket from Jasmine Hunt.

ASU will return the court Sunday, Jan. 20 for a matchup at the Convocation Center with Louisiana-Monroe. Tip-off is set for 2:05 p.m.