LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — The Louisiana-Monroe women’s basketball team used a dominant fourth quarter to defeat Louisiana-Lafayette 61-51 in a Sun Belt Conference game Thursday night at the Cajundome. The Warhawks, who trailed by seven after the first quarter, outscored the Ragin’ Cajuns 27-9 in the final period. Asjah Inniss led Louisiana-Monroe with 15 points, while J’Mani Ingram also scored 15. Amijah Price scored a game-high 18 points for Louisiana-Lafayette. Louisiana-Monroe improved to 7-7 overall. Louisiana-Lafayette fell to 1-14.

LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — The Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks used a dominant fourth-quarter surge to overcome a sluggish start and defeat the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns 61-51 in a Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at the Cajundome. In a contest defined by offensive struggles for long stretches, the Warhawks exploded for 27 points in the final period to erase a deficit and pull away for a crucial conference road victory. The win improved Louisiana-Monroe to 7-7 overall, while the Ragin’ Cajuns fell to a difficult 1-14. The most important part of the game unfolded in the fourth quarter, where Louisiana-Monroe transformed a narrow, back-and-forth affair into a decisive win. Entering the final period trailing 42-34, the Warhawks unleashed a 19-4 run over the first six and a half minutes to seize control. The run was fueled by a combination of defensive pressure and timely outside shooting. Guard Asjah Inniss, who finished with a team-high 15 points, ignited the rally with a critical three-pointer just over two minutes into the quarter, cutting the deficit to five. After the Ragin’ Cajuns’ Amijah Price hit two free throws to push the lead back to seven, Inniss struck again from beyond the arc. This was followed by a driving layup from Keshunti Nichols and a transition jumper from Nakiyah Mays-Prince, suddenly tying the game at 46-46 with 6:02 remaining. The Warhawks’ defense then forced consecutive turnovers by Price, and Inniss capitalized with a mid-range jumper off one to give ULM its first lead since the first quarter. She then drilled another three-pointer on the next possession, extending the lead to five and forcing a Louisiana-Lafayette timeout. The Warhawks never looked back, holding the Ragin’ Cajuns to just nine points in the quarter on 2-of-12 shooting while forcing five turnovers. The game began in stark contrast to its finish. Louisiana-Lafayette started strong, building an 18-11 lead after the first quarter behind eight early points from Price. The Warhawks’ offense was stagnant, managing only 19 points in the entire first half on 7-of-30 shooting. Despite their own shooting woes, the Ragin’ Cajuns maintained a 27-19 halftime advantage. The third quarter saw both teams trade baskets, with Louisiana-Lafayette maintaining a slim lead. J’Mani Ingram kept the Warhawks within striking distance, scoring seven of her 15 points in the period. The Ragin’ Cajuns took a 42-34 lead into the fourth, setting the stage for the visitors’ dramatic comeback. Beyond the pivotal fourth-quarter run, the game was ultimately decided by Louisiana-Monroe’s ability to create second chances and capitalize at the free-throw line down the stretch. The Warhawks dominated the offensive glass, hauling in 18 offensive rebounds leading to 15 second-chance points, compared to just nine offensive boards for Louisiana-Lafayette. ULM also attempted 26 free throws, making 17, while the Ragin’ Cajuns went 12 for 19 from the line. Defensively, Louisiana-Monroe’s pressure was consistent, generating 14 turnovers and recording eight steals. While both teams shot under 33% from the field, the Warhawks’ 88.0 offensive rating on 69 possessions proved more efficient than the Ragin’ Cajuns’ 71.8 rating on 71 trips. For Louisiana-Lafayette, Amijah Price was a bright spot, leading all scorers with 18 points. Stephanie Mosley added six points and a game-high four assists. However, the team’s offense faltered completely in the final ten minutes, scoring just nine points on three field goals. Ingram’s 15 points and seven rebounds complemented Inniss’s scoring outburst for the Warhawks. Marcavia Shavers posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Mays-Prince contributed six points and a game-high four assists. The victory gives Louisiana-Monroe momentum as they prepare for a quick turnaround at South Alabama on Saturday. Louisiana-Lafayette will look to regroup when they host Texas State, also on Saturday. The two in-state rivals are scheduled to meet again in Monroe on Jan. 17.

LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — A Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball matchup featuring two teams on opposite trajectories will tip off Thursday night when the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks visit the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns at the Cajundome. The Warhawks (6-7 overall) enter with momentum from a 2-1 start in league play, while the Ragin’ Cajuns (1-13) seek their first conference win and just their second victory of the season. Louisiana-Lafayette’s lone win came against NAIA opponent Dillard on Dec. 29. Louisiana-Monroe is led by forward Marcavia Shavers, who is coming off a historic performance. In an 89-71 loss to Arkansas State on Saturday, Shavers grabbed 21 rebounds to go with 12 points. That followed a 17-point, 17-rebound effort in a 61-44 win over South Alabama on Jan. 1. Her consistent interior presence will be a primary focus for the Ragin’ Cajuns’ defense. Louisiana-Lafayette will counter with its own standout forward, Imani Daniel. She averaged 11.6 points and 8.0 rebounds over her last five games, including a 20-point outing against Texas State. In the Cajuns’ most recent game, an 81-56 loss to South Alabama, Daniel posted 14 points and eight rebounds. The Warhawks’ offense also features guard J’Mani Ingram, who erupted for 30 points in the loss to Arkansas State. For Louisiana-Lafayette, guard Amijah Price is coming off a season-high 24-point performance against South Alabama. Despite their starkly different records, the intrastate rivalry often levels the playing field. The Warhawks have shown resilience on the road this season with a win at Grambling, while the Ragin’ Cajuns have struggled at home, with their sole victory at the Cajundome coming against Dillard. Thursday’s contest is the first of two regular-season meetings between the schools. They will meet again in Monroe on Jan. 17. Following this game, Louisiana-Monroe will travel to face South Alabama on Saturday. Louisiana-Lafayette will remain at home to host Texas State on Saturday.