JONESBORO, Ark. (Interstat) — Arkansas State overwhelmed Louisiana-Lafayette 75-34 in a Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Convocation Center. The Red Wolves seized control with a 28-point first quarter and never relented. Bella Weary scored 17 points to lead Arkansas State, now 15-4. Mia Tarver added 15 points for the hosts. The Ragin’ Cajuns, who fell to 1-16, were led by Amijah Price’s 10 points. The team managed only 10 points total in the second half. Arkansas State shot efficiently and used a balanced attack, with nine players scoring. An attendance of 1,123 watched the Red Wolves cruise to their 15th victory.

JONESBORO, Ark. (Interstat) — The Arkansas State women’s basketball team delivered a performance of overwhelming force Thursday night, dismantling visiting Louisiana-Lafayette 75-34 in a Sun Belt Conference matchup at Convocation Center. The game was decided almost from the opening tip, as the Red Wolves unleashed a 28-point first quarter that effectively buried the struggling Ragin’ Cajuns. Arkansas State’s stifling defense and efficient transition offense built a lead that would never be challenged, improving their record to 15-4 overall and solidifying their position in the conference’s upper tier. Louisiana-Lafayette, meanwhile, saw its season of hardship continue, falling to 1-16. The most important part of the game was its blistering start. Arkansas State established immediate and total dominance, outscoring Louisiana-Lafayette 28-10 in the first period. The Red Wolves set the tone defensively, forcing eight Louisiana-Lafayette turnovers in the quarter and converting them into easy scoring opportunities. Guard Zyion Shannon opened the scoring with a three-pointer just 32 seconds in, and the avalanche quickly followed. A 13-0 run midway through the quarter, fueled by steals and defensive stops, stretched a 15-8 lead to 28-8. Bella Weary capped the period with two free throws in the final second, cementing an 18-point lead that rendered the remaining 30 minutes a formality. Weary, a guard from Jacksonville, Florida, led all scorers with 17 points in just 22 minutes, spearheading the balanced Arkansas State attack. Mia Tarver added 15 points, while Aniyah Ruddock and Zyion Shannon chipped in 10 and 9 points, respectively. The Red Wolves’ depth was on full display, with ten players logging at least 15 minutes and nine finding the scoring column. Louisiana-Lafayette, which has now lost five straight, never found an offensive rhythm. The Ragin’ Cajuns committed 30 turnovers, which Arkansas State converted into 33 points. Amijah Price was the lone Louisiana-Lafayette player in double figures, finishing with 10 points. Bianca Silva added 5 points and three assists. After the catastrophic first quarter, the Red Wolves managed the game with precision, maintaining a defensive intensity that held Louisiana-Lafayette to single-digit scoring in both the third and fourth quarters. The Ragin’ Cajuns shot just 4 points in the final period as Arkansas State closed the game on a 13-2 run, highlighted by a late three-pointer from Aniyah Ruddock. The defensive effort was comprehensive for Arkansas State. Wynter Rogers contributed 7 points, 2 assists, and was a persistent disruptor with multiple steals and blocks. Post player Yves Cox anchored the paint with 4 blocks, altering countless other attempts. Guard Mimi McCollister facilitated the offense with 4 assists and was a key part of the perimeter pressure that caused so much havoc. The victory was a return to form for Arkansas State following a road loss to Troy in their previous outing. For Louisiana-Lafayette, the defeat extends a brutal stretch where they have lost 11 of their last 12 games, with the lone win coming against NAIA opponent Dillard. Their offensive struggles have been pronounced, failing to reach 60 points in any of their 16 losses this season. A crowd of 1,123 at the Convocation Center watched the Red Wolves control every facet of the game. Arkansas State outrebounded Louisiana-Lafayette and scored 40 points in the paint, emphasizing their physical advantage. Arkansas State will look to carry this momentum into a Saturday home contest against Southern Mississippi. Louisiana-Lafayette faces a quick turnaround, traveling to face in-state rival Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday as they continue their search for a second victory.

Sun Belt Women’s Basketball Preview: Struggling Ragin’ Cajuns Face Surging Red Wolves JONESBORO, Ark. (Interstat) — A stark contrast in trajectories will be on display Thursday night when the Arkansas State Red Wolves host the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns in a Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball matchup at Convocation Center. The Red Wolves (14-4 overall) enter as one of the conference’s top teams, while the Ragin’ Cajuns (1-15) seek to halt a prolonged slump. Arkansas State has won six of its last seven games, with its only recent blemish an 86-64 road loss at Troy on Jan. 10. Louisiana-Lafayette has lost six straight since its lone victory over Dillard on Dec. 29, including a 55-43 home loss to Texas State on Saturday. Arkansas State’s offense is powered by guard Crislyn Rose, who is coming off a 19-point, 6-assist performance against Troy. Over her last five games, Rose has averaged 17 points and 5 assists, showcasing her dual-threat capability. Her playmaking will be central against a Louisiana-Lafayette defense that has allowed an average of 70.2 points per game during its current losing streak. The Ragin’ Cajuns will rely on forward Imani Daniel to provide a spark. Daniel leads the team in scoring during conference play and is averaging 13.1 points and 6.9 rebounds over her last seven games. She logged 40 minutes and scored 16 points with 7 rebounds in the loss to Texas State. Arkansas State has dominated recent home contests, boasting a 7-1 record in Jonesboro this season. Louisiana-Lafayette is 0-8 in true road games. The Red Wolves’ high-powered attack, averaging 80.2 points per game, will test a Ragin’ Cajuns squad that has failed to reach 60 points in five of its six conference losses. Ball security will be critical for the visitors, who must contend with Arkansas State’s aggressive perimeter defense. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST on Thursday, Jan. 15. Arkansas State will host Southern Mississippi on Saturday, while Louisiana-Lafayette travels to face Louisiana-Monroe.