North Texas tests Cajuns

MeanGreen61 · January 7, 2006

Bruce Brown

bbrown@theadvertiser.com

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

When the Louisiana Ragin' Cajun women won the Sun Belt Conference Western Division last season, the first such title in the history of the program, it meant coach J. Kelley Hall's team had used up its allowance of flying under the radar.

This year, the Cajuns are operating with targets painted on their backs as they try to capture another title and eventually earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Thursday's 76-50 thrashing of Denver - the 22nd straight victory at home - showed the Cajuns are ready for league play, but they'll have to maintain that level at 7 p.m. tonight against North Texas at Earl K. Long Gym.

Coach Tina Slinker's team is off to the best start in school history at 11-2 and is coming off a 62-33 hammering of New Orleans in its league opener.

Two teams at 11-2, both 1-0 in Sun Belt play, make for a dramatic early-season pairing.

"We talked after the Arkansas-Pine Bluff game (a lackluster 64-56 win on Dec. 30), and I don't think we were really focused coming off of exams," Hall said. "We were very focused in this past week of practice, and it showed against Denver.

"We had four starters in double figures and we really spread the ball around. We were very unselfish. It was the best game we had all year."

Senior point guard Ashley Blanche triggered that win, getting 13 of her 15 points by halftime as UL put the Pioneers away early.

"I'm satisfied as long as we win," Blanche said. "My goal is to lead the team and not get too many turnovers. If I play badly and we win, I'm still happy. I was looking to have a good, solid game, and I think I did that."

But Blanche is attending her grandmother's funeral in Houston today, and getting her back in time is a concern.

With that in mind, Hall got Jeanenne Colbert onto the floor for 18 minutes on Thursday, and she responded with three points and three assists.

"We're trying to play her back into shape," Hall said of Colbert, who was injured in a preseason auto accident. "She's only really had three hard practices, and she gets winded pretty quickly."

Strong play at the point will be crucial against a North Texas team that has 145 steals in 13 games. Erika Bobo's 38 thefts lead a group of five Mean Green players in double digits for steals.

"They start three seniors on the perimeter," Hall said. "They have four outstanding post players, and it doesn't matter who's in there. So they can afford 20 fouls right there.

"They push the ball hard in transition and try to shoot the ball very close. They're averaging 17 offensive rebounds per game, so when they miss they pound the boards."

The Cajuns dominated the boards against Denver, 45-22, getting 24 offensive rebounds. Sherita Anderson and Alicia McDaniel had 10 caroms apiece, while Anderson and Yolanda Jones each had 6 offensive boards.

North Texas held UNO to 10-of-58 shooting (17.2 percent) from the floor on Thursday, in a game played at Westwego's Alario Center. The Mean Green out-rebounded the Privateers 55-45 and executed 11 steals.

"I wasn't very pleased with the way we started the game, because I thought we came out flat," Slinker said. "But I was happy with the way our defense was able to take charge.

"I'm pleased with this win, but I'm even more excited about our next game. I'm really anxious to see how we respond against (UL) Lafayette."

Originally published January 7, 2006