NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana-Lafayette women's basketball team put together a strong second half performance in a 88-27 victory over the University of New Orleans on Monday night at Lakefront Arena.
Josie West scored a career-high 20 points for ULL (3-3) in the victory, shooting 9 of 12 from the field. Preseason All-Sun Belt selection Mercedes Johnson was held to a season-low 12 points while Jasmine Barnes scored 11.
Mirjam Sipos scored a team-high 10 points in the first half for UNO (0-6) before being held off the scoreboard in the second half. Sipos doubled as the leading rebounder with seven grabs off the glass.
The Lady Privateers jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a Sipos three-pointer at the beginning of the game before ULL scored 17 straight points.
A
Britney Blanchard three-pointer ended the run and a streak of 10 straight missed field goals for UNO. The Blanchard bomb started a 7-2 UNO run that enabled the Lady Privateers to get within nine points at 19-10.
Sipos would continue to be a force on the UNO offensive end, scoring 10 points in the opening half as the Ragin' Cajuns took a 37-17 lead in to the break. The 20-point advantage for ULL was the smallest margin of deficit for the Lady Privateers at the break this season.
The second half would not be as productive for the UNO offense in the second half, as the team shot 4 of 29 from the field to finish with a school-record low 27 points.
Kendracia Valmont provided a spark in the second half off the bench, scoring all six of her points after the break including both of the Lady Privateers' three-pointers.
UNO will continue their season-long three-game homestand on Wednesday at Lakefront Arena against Belhaven. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m.
