Game on for Southern basketball

 
Friday marks the start of the 2012-13 college women’s hoops. As the story goes, Southern will look to defend their home court against Louisiana-Lafayette at 6 p.m.
But the Ragin’ Cajuns put their opponents’ campus on alert after their exhibition thrashing over a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent.
They defeated Centenary College 108-38.
The Jaguars, however, posted a 75-43 victory over Dillard University, whom they opened their schedule against last year with a 21-point win.
Junior transfer Yasmin Fuller led Southern with 14 points in their exhibition game. She shot 5-of-7 from the floor, including three 3-pointers and seven rebounds.
“I’m coming in to prove a point,” Fuller said. “Being at a winning program, I want to be with a coach that doesn’t like to lose.”
Fuller, who was signed during the off-season to help the jaguars’ front line, played 12 minutes against the Bleu Devils.
“Its that time of the year,” 13 year head coach Sandy Pugh said at practice Wednesday. “All the coaches look forward to it. We’re tired of beating up on each other. It’s time for us to get out there and scratch somebody else.”
The Jaguars have clawed several victories over the Ragin’ Cajuns.
More memorable than others was their win at Earl K. Long Gym in 2009.
SU went 23-9, won the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles that season.
The Ragin’ Cajuns returned last year with a 60-49 upset win at home.
Pugh emphasized that her squad was more athletic than ever and consisted of players that she hope can carry the team before playing in the A&M Classic at Texas A&M Nov 23.
“I’m happy with this team,” she said. “I think they have all the ingredients to be outstanding.”
SU went 12-6 in the conference a year ago, tying Alabama A&M for second in regular season. As a result, a No. 2 seed in the SWAC tourney, which deflated a third straight regular season title.
In that season, the Ragin’ Cajuns ended their schedule with a 74-53 loss in the opening round of the 2012 Sun Belt Conference tournament.
The Ragin’ Cajuns enter this season selected to finish the fifth in the Western Division of the Sun Belt, finishing 1-15 in the conference and 7-23 overall. After the season, the program named Garry Brodhead the new women’s head basketball coach, making scouting the Cajuns difficult for Pugh.
“We’re just going to have to go at cold turkey,” Pugh said. “It’s not something that we would like to do or are used to doing, but at this point we’re just going to do what we do.”