LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — In a season defined by struggles, the Louisiana-Lafayette women’s basketball team found a moment of triumph Wednesday night, snapping a seven-game losing streak with a gritty 69-66 victory over Coastal Carolina at the Cajundome.

The win, just the second of the season for the Ragin’ Cajuns against 17 losses, was secured in a tense final minute that saw five lead changes, a testament to the fight of a team that entered the game as a significant underdog. Coastal Carolina fell to 9-11.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the game’s closing seconds. With the score tied at 66 and under 30 seconds to play, Coastal Carolina’s Kristin Williams missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer. Louisiana-Lafayette’s Mikaylah Manley secured the defensive rebound and was immediately fouled. The sophomore guard from Lake Charles, Louisiana, calmly sank both free throws with 25 seconds remaining to put the Ragin’ Cajuns ahead 68-66.

On the ensuing possession, Coastal Carolina’s Paige Bradley turned the ball over, and Manley was fouled again. She split the pair at the line with three seconds left, pushing the lead to three. The Chanticleers’ desperation heave from beyond half-court was off target, sealing the victory for the home team before an announced crowd of 484.

The frantic finish capped a game where Louisiana-Lafayette consistently answered Coastal Carolina’s challenges. The Chanticleers led 30-31 at halftime and 47-46 after three quarters, but could never build a sustainable advantage. The Ragin’ Cajuns saved their best for last, erupting for 23 points in the fourth quarter, their highest-scoring period of the game.

Manley was the undeniable catalyst, scoring a game-high 25 points, including the decisive free throws and a critical 3-pointer early in the fourth that sparked her team’s final push. She added a steal and a block in 34 minutes of action. She was supported by Kahlen Norris, who added 14 points, and Amijah Price, who contributed 10 points off the bench, including two key free throws in the final moments.

Coastal Carolina was led by Paige Bradley’s 16 points and four assists. Kristin Williams added 14 points, but struggled from deep, hitting only 3 of her 13 attempts from 3-point range. As a team, the Chanticleers were plagued by poor shooting, connecting on just 31.7% from the field and 20% from beyond the arc. A critical shortcoming came at the free throw line, where they left 13 points unclaimed, making only 20 of 33 attempts.

Despite the offensive woes, Coastal Carolina stayed in the game through sheer volume of opportunities, generated by a dominant 16 offensive rebounds. They attempted seven more field goals and nine more free throws than Louisiana-Lafayette. However, the Ragin’ Cajuns were more efficient, posting an offensive rating of 92.9 points per 100 possessions compared to Coastal’s 85.0, and committed only 13 turnovers.

The victory provides a rare bright spot for Louisiana-Lafayette in a difficult season. For Coastal Carolina, it marks a missed opportunity against a team they were heavily favored to beat, continuing a pattern of inconsistent Sun Belt Conference play.

Louisiana-Lafayette will look to build on the win when it hosts Appalachian State on Saturday. Coastal Carolina aims to rebound on the road at Southern Mississippi the same day.