The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns with 9 seniors or graduates are one of the country’s oldest teams. Exhibit A is 6’0” graduate guard Erica Lafayette who spent four years at Rutgers before transferring home. Last season Lafayette scored 9 points in 24 minutes when the Scarlet Knights won the regular season game versus Minnesota. Later, she put up 16 points in 36 minutes in losing to the Gophers in the B1G tourney. In addition to experience, she brings three-point prowess to Louisiana (she was 7-13 from three versus Minnesota last season).
Lafayette represented the type of hybrid player that long time Louisiana head coach, Garry Brodhead, went after in the transfer portal. He sought players with size and athleticism (who doesn’t) capable of playing multiple positions and switching on defense. Brodhead intended to improve on last season’s tied for 5th place finish in the Sun Belt Conference. The Ragin’ Cajuns were voted 5th in this season’s poll behind JMU, Troy, ODU and ULM.
The season started slowly with a 55-57 loss at Northern Illinois. The Ragin’ Cajuns were scoreless for the last 8:30 while Northern got a winning put back with :30 seconds remaining.
Returning home, UL led start to finish in a 74-50 defeat of Loyola (La). Louisiana’s next outing was cancelled when Mobile encountered travel problems. After a two week break, which allowed some recovery time for some players with nagging injuries, UL defeated Nichols 60-55 and New Orleans 61-46. They enter the Big Easy Tournament 3-1 where they will face Cleveland State before playing Minnesota.
STARTERS
5’8” junior guard Jaylyn James averages 13 points and 3.5 rebounds in 20 minutes. James returned from injury to play the last two games. She scored 16 against Nichols.
5’9” graduate point guard Tamiah Robinson averages 11.8 points and 7.7 rebounds in 33 minutes. Robinson posted 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 turnovers versus UNO. She began her career with Utah State.
6’1” graduate forward Kamryn Jones transferred from Houston and averages 6.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in 19.3 minutes. On the season, she has 9 steals, 9 turnovers and 5 assists. Jones ramps up the excitement.
6’0” senior forward Ashlyn Jones has spent her career at Louisiana. This season she averages 4.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 24.8 minutes.
5’8” graduate guard Aasia Sam averages 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds in 19 minutes.
OTHERS
5’7” graduate guard Lanay Wheaton returned from last season’s nagging injury to average 10.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in 24 minutes. The injury must’ve returned. She hasn’t played since the Nichols game.
5’8” graduate guard Nubia Benedith started her career at North Florida the Gophers next opponent. For the Ragin’ Cajuns she’s averaging 8.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 27.3 minutes as the backup point guard.
And the previously mentioned Erica Lafayette averages 10.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in 19.5 minutes.
It should be noted that Louisiana was counting on some players who were injured. Among them were 6’2” post Charlotte Caravalho suffered a season ending knee injury and Missouri transfer 6’3” graduate forward Skylah Travis has not played
