LAFAYETTE, La. – Jaylyn Gordon tallied 25 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Louisiana canned 14 3-pointers, one shy of the school record, in a 79-52 Sun Belt Conference women's basketball victory over Georgia Southern Saturday afternoon in the Cajundome.
 
Angel McGowan scored 19 points, including 13 straight in the second half, and collected five rebounds and three steals for Georgia Southern (5-11, 1-4). Patrice Butler chipped in 16 points and seven rebounds.
 
Gordon was 9 of 19 from the floor and nailed seven triples for Louisiana (10-4, 4-1), and Simone Fields recorded 16 points and 12 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass. Troi Swain finished with 16 points, four rebounds and three assists and hit four from downtown. Nekia Jones nailed three from long distance and posted 10 points, five rebounds and four assists.
 
THE STORY
With the game tied 22-22 in the second quarter, Louisiana scored 13 straight points, including three triples in a row by Jones, to open a 35-22 lead. The margin grew to 41-23 with 1:41 left in the period on two straight 3-pointers by Gordon, and the Ragin' Cajuns led 41-27 at halftime. McGowan scored the first bucket of the second half to cut the lead to 12, but the Eagles could not bring it under double digits for the rest of the game.
 
Georgia Southern got off to a good start and led 12-5 after a McGowan 3-pointer midway through the first quarter, but the Ragin' Cajuns scored the next five points to cut the lead to two and trailed 18-16 at the end of the period.
 
Louisiana made 14 of 27 from long distance and shot 48 percent from the field. The Ragin' Cajuns scored 23 points off of 15 GS turnovers and added 11 second-chance points. Georgia Southern shot 36 percent for the game and 21 percent in the second quarter.
 
QUOTABLES FROM HEAD COACH KIP DROWN
"The girls did exactly what we asked them to do, come out aggressive and attack and go after it, we did that. They jumped into the press and caught us a couple times but it wasn't on that end even though we had a couple turnovers, it was on the other end. We got out of what we were doing and just started going on our own offensively, we panicked and that's on me. We have got to do a more disciplined job of taking that pressure off. I'm disappointed in our composure after they went after our press, we got to be able to attack that and not break down so easily."

"We were down 14 at half, but 14 is nothing in this game. We came out and got some great looks and ended up getting a couple stops but we did our best to chip away at it even though we never could generate that defensive intensity to get us back in it, along with some offensive support. Every time we were trying to get back in it they stepped up and made some big shots, you have to tip your hat to them for being clutch."

NEXT UP
Georgia Southern plays host to Coastal Carolina Thursday and Appalachian State Saturday. Promotions for Thursday: Throwback Thursday - Fans can submit their favorite oldies songs to be played at the game, Thirsty Thursday - Free Coke products for GSU students, National Popcorn Day - Regular popcorns are half-off at the concession stand. Promotions for Saturday: Blue Out Game - Wear your best True Blue colors,
Men's Basketball Alumni Day - All men's basketball alumni are invited back for a fun weekend, Teddy Bear Toss - Fans are encouraged to bring new or slightly-used medium-sized teddy bears to throw on the court and win a prize during halftime of the game. The teddy bears will be donated to the Safe Haven organization.
 

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