ALEXANDRIA, La. – Jewel Jones knocked down six shots from deep as the Louisiana State University of Alexandria women's basketball team defended The Fort in an 80-68 victory over Louisiana Christian University in the Red River Rivalry.
The Generals (7-2, 4-1 RRAC) have won the last three contests against the Wildcats (2-5, 2-4 RRAC).
Jones led LSUA's offense with 22 points. She finished 7-for-12 from the field, including six buckets from long range.
"We always know it's going to be tough against LCU," Head Coach Billy Perkins said. "I'm proud of this girl right here [Jones], I mean, she's playing against one of the best players, if not [the best] in the conference in Princis Goff. It doesn't matter what the match-up is, Jewel is going to compete. Very proud of the effort, our bench was electric, and I'm just proud of the whole team."
Blair Smith and
Dannah Martin-Hartwick added 13 points each with Smith shooting 50-percent from the field.
Benedetta Peracchi notched a double-double, tallying 11 points and 12 rebounds. The performance was her third double-double of the year. The Generals scored 32 points in the paint, 11 points off turnovers, 14 second chance points, and the bench chipped in 13. LSUA shot 42.4 percent from the floor, including an 8-for-12 mark in the fourth quarter.
The Generals found themselves trailing 22-12 after the first quarter but responded by outscoring LCU 26-10 in the second period. Jones drained four straight threes for LSUA, cutting the deficit to 26-24. She then tied the contest with 5:25 left in the second with a jumper.
Over the final 2:11 of the second quarter, LSUA went on an 11-2.
Reese Stephens hit a three at the buzzer, sending the Generals into the locker room at halftime with a 38-32 advantage.
A three from Jones and a layup from
Amani Gray gave LSUA their first double-digit lead of the game early in the third quarter. The Wildcats cut the lead to four, 47-43, before a 9-0 run from the Generals surged the lead back to double digits, 54-43. Martin-Hartwick,
Alexis Dyer, and Peracchi scored over the run.
The Wildcats battled back again in the fourth, cutting LSUA's lead to just four, 68-64, with 2:20 to play. An 8-0 run for the Generals pushed the lead to 12 with 49 seconds left in regulation to secure the victory.
The Generals are on the road for their next two games of the season. They travel to the University of the Southwest (N.M.) on Thursday, December 5. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 PM CT.
