PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Christian University women's basketball team got double-doubles from Carlea Owens and Kateria Gooden, but too many opportunities for LSU -Alexandria allowed the Generals to pull away as the Wildcats fell 81-70 in the Red River Rivalry Tuesday night on the Gene Rushing Court at H.O. West Fieldhouse.
 
Louisiana Christian (1-6, 0-1 RRAC) was battling from behind from the start as LSU Alexandria (2-4, 1-0 RRAC) jumped out to a 10-point lead, 16-6, 4:30 into the contest. The Wildcats scored the period's last five points to cut what was an eight-point General lead, 23-15, with a minute left to just three points at 23-20 at the quarter's end as Gooden scored just before the buzzer sounded.
 
After LSUA opened the second quarter scoring with a jumper, an Amiyah Simpkins three-pointer and fastbreak lay-up on back-to-back possessions got the score tied at 25-25 with 7:45 left before halftime. The Wildcats took their first lead of the game with 3:20 left before the break as Jakiya Thompson picked a General's pocket and took it the distance for a lay-up to put LCU up 31-29. LSUA answered by scoring the next nine points to go up 38-31 on their way to taking a 42-35 lead into the halftime locker room.
 
LCU got within four early in the third quarter as Owens hit a pair of free throws to make it 42-38 less than a minute into the second half. Later, Gooden put back in a missed Simpkins three-point attempt to make it a five-point game at 48-43 LSUA, but that's where the score opened up as the Generals scored the next eight points, getting the deficit back above 10 points at 56-43. The Generals grew the lead to 15 points several times in the period, including at the end as a pair of free throws with 0.1 seconds left before the quarter's expiration gave LSUA a 68-53 lead heading to the final 10 minutes of play.
 
The Wildcats started the fourth quarter strong, scoring the first six points to get the deficit back under double digits as Owens scored on a jumper in the paint to make it 68-59 with 8:10 remaining. After the two teams traded buckets to make the score 70-61 LSUA with six minutes left, the Generals put the game out of reach with another 9-0 run which opened the margin to its largest of the contest, 18 points, at 79-61 with 3:40 left.
 
LCU answered with eight-straight points with Owens hitting a free throw to cut the deficit to 11 with less than a minute remaining, but the Wildcats got no closer in the closing moments.
 
The short-handed Wildcats were led by Owens, who finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. She also had a pair of assists and a pair of steals.
 
Gooden's double-double consisted of 11 points and 13 rebounds to go with six steals, two assists, and a blocked shot.
 
Maddison Carey came off the bench to provide 18 points on six-of-11 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers. She added two steals, a block, and an assist.
 
LCU hit 41 percent from the field in the contest, with three of the 25 made shots coming from beyond the arc.
 
After enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday, the Wildcats return to action on Monday as they head down to Thibodaux for an exhibition contest against NCAA Division I team Nicholls. Tip-off of Monday's contest against the Colonels (3-3) is set for 11 a.m. at the David R. Stopher Gymnasium.
 
LCU returns to Red River Athletic Conference action a week from Saturday, on Dec. 6, as the Wildcats head to Stafford, Texas to take on North American. Tip-off against the Stallions (2-0, 0-0 RRAC) is set for 1 p.m. at the Stafford Municipal School District Gymnasium.