Morehead, Ky. – A big night by senior
Kate Dike and a third quarter surge powered Morehead State to a 61-54 victory over the University of Louisiana in the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana Sunday night.
Morehead State (4-5) went on a 17-3 run through six minutes in the middle of the third quarter and outscored Louisiana 22-11 in the period to take a 46-34 lead heading into the final ten minutes. Dike led the charge, scoring 12 of her career-high 35 points in the third frame. The Eagles closed the period hitting five of their last six shots from the floor and hit six of their nine (67%) field goal attempts in the frame.
Dike's 35 points led all scorers and is the highest scoring total to-date in the Ohio Valley Conference. Dike hit 12 of her 18 field goal attempts including all three of her three-point shot attempts. She also hit eight of 12 from the free throw line. Dike also pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds for her third career double-double and the second of the season.
Laura Toffali added 10 points for Morehead State; the Eagles shot 20-49 (41%) from the floor and just five of 21 (24%) from three-point range for the game.
Louisiana (0-9) was led by Bianca Silva with 13 points. Kahlen Norris added 11 for the Cajuns.
Louisiana ran off the game's first seven points to grab the early lead. Morehead State answered with a 10-2 to take the lead 10-9. Both teams struggled to score at times: the Eagles shot 6-17 (35%) from the field in the opening frame, while Louisiana went just 4-13 (31%). Morehead State closed out the quarter with a six-point run to go to the quarter break with a 16-11 lead.
The Rajin' Cajuns raced out to score the first seven points of the second quarter to regain the lead 18-16. Morehead State clawed back to regain the lead 22-21 on a Dike turnaround layup with just under four minutes to play in the half. The Eagles went into the intermission on top 24-23 after two
Landon Forbes free throws with four seconds left.
After trailing by a dozen heading into the final period, the Rajin' Cajuns cut the MSU lead to six twice, last on driving layup with 4:44 to go. Louisiana went cold in the late stages from the floor, failing to make a field goal until there were just 16 seconds to play. Dike again led the charge for the Eagles, scoring 13 of MSU 15 points in the final frame.
The Eagles will get a couple of days off then trek to South Bend, Indiana to face off against the 18
th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The game can be heard on the Eagle Sports Network with Tom Lewis and Wes Holland on the call and can be seen on ACCNx.
NOTABLE
- Morehead State out-rebounded Louisiana 39-25. MSU pulled down 13 offensive rebounds for a 9-8 edge in second chance points.
- MSU committed 18 turnovers (10 in the first half) to 14 for UL. The Cajuns had a 20-16 edge in points off turnovers.
- In the second half, the Eagles went 12-23 (52%) from the floor and sealed the game hitting 10 of their 13 free throw attempts in the final 20 minutes. The Eagles his 16 of their 21 charity tosses (76%) for the game.
