LAFAYETTE, LA. – Coastal Carolina women's basketball fell, 67-51, against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns on Thursday in Lafayette, La. With the loss, the Chants drop to 7-14 overall and 1-7 in Sun Belt action, while Louisiana improves to 7-10 on the year and 3-5 in the conference with the victory.
 
Coastal's Deaja Richardson finished with a team-high 14 points with Makaila Cange added 11 points. Arin Freeman was the game's leading rebounder with nine rebounds, while Alancia Ramsey added eight boards. CCU outrebounded the Ragin' Cajuns 37-25.
 
Jaylyn James, Tamiah Robinson, and Uniyah Franklin scored 16, 11, and 10 points, respectively, to lead Louisiana. Tamera Johnson grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
 
Coastal led 4-0 in the early stages of the game as Richardson opened the scoring with a three-point jumper and a free throw. The Cajuns evened the game up with back-to-back baskets before taking the lead with a three-point bomb by Brandi Williams with 3:23 remaining in the first quarter.
 
The Chants answered with a 7-2 run to take an 11-9 lead, highlighted by five points by Richardson including an old-fashioned three-point play. After a four quick points by Louisiana, Coastal took the lead at 14-13 on a second old-fashioned three-point play, as Ramsey was fouled on a put back. The homestanding Ragin' Cajuns closed the first period scoring from the free throw line as Williams hit a pair with two seconds left to lead 15-14.
 
The Chants took its last lead at 16-15 as Cange made a layup to open the second quarter scoring. However, Louisiana pushed its lead to 31-22 with a 16-6 spurt over the final nine minutes of the first half action.  
 
The third period began with the Ragin' Cajuns scoring the first six points for a 37-22 advantage with 7:43 remaining in the third quarter. After a Coastal timeout, Richardson hit her first three-point jump shot to spark a 7-4 burst for the Ladies in Teal to trail 41-29. However, Louisiana answered with an 10-3 run to end the third period for a 51-32 lead.
 
Coastal trailed 53-37 as Cange scored the first five Chanticleer points to open the final quarter. The two teams traded the next 16 points to keep the margin at 61-45 before CCU cut the deficit to 61-48 with five unanswered points. The Ragin' Cajuns responded with six-straight points to lead 67-48. Coastal's Tiara Abron closed out the scoring with a three-point jumper with 14 seconds left to play. 
 
Coastal Carolina will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 27, as the Chanticleers travel to Monroe, La. to meet the ULM Warhawks. The tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
 
For complete coverage of CCU women's basketball, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalWBB (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.