Box Score



HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana sophomore forward Aja Gibson scored a season-high 17 points, but Louisiana-Lafayette forced 22 Lady Lion turnovers and received a career-high 27 points from senior guard Krystal Motley to hand Southeastern a 69-57 loss in non-conference women's basketball action Tuesday night at the University Center.

The loss was the first at home for the Lady Lions (3-3). Louisiana-Lafayette improved to 2-4 with the win thanks to the efforts of Motley and senior center Kemi Rotibi (16 points, 10 rebounds).

Gibson was one of two Lady Lions to finish in double figures, as senior guard Kelli Jenkins notched 10 points. Junior forward Brandi Simmons added eight points to go with a game-high five assists.

The Lady Lions finished with a 36-33 rebounding advantage. Simmons and Holder each grabbed nine rebounds for Southeastern. Jenkins and freshman forward Elizabeth Styles each had two steals, while freshman forward Hillary Shaffer and sophomore forward Kaitlyn Waller finished with one block each.  

Motley and Rotibi were joined in double figures by junior center Josie West, who had 11 points. Motley also led ULL with four assists.

Southeastern dug itself an early hole, as the Lady Lions failed to score for the first eight-plus minutes of the game. Jenkins scored 10 points in the first half to help Southeastern battle back to within three at the halftime break.

A three-point field goal by senior guard Amber Crenshaw gave Southeastern its first lead, 34-33, with 16:54 remaining. The two teams traded baskets over the next few minutes, as the lead changed hands 10 times, before Louisiana-Lafayette took the lead for good on a jumper by freshman guard Brooklyn Arceneaux with 7:23 remaining.

Motley would extend the lead to four with 6:07 left on one of her three treys of the evening. On Southeastern's next possession, Gibson knocked down two free throws to trim the Ragin' Cajun advantage to two.

That was as close as Southeastern would get, however, as ULL out-scored Southeastern 18-8 in the final five minutes. Louisiana-Lafayette was able to pull away due in large part to its 65 percent (13-for-20) second half shooting.

Southeastern will be back in action on Friday, when it faces Alabama at 6:30 p.m. in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday's game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net.