ULM Warhawks

Game 18: ULM (4-13, 1-5) vs. UT ARLINGTON (9-9, 3-4)

Saturday, Jan. 20 | 2 p.m. CT

Arlington, Texas | College Park Center (7,000)

 

 

ULM Women's Basketball Notes: Game 18 at UTA

ULM WRAPS UP ROAD SWING AT UTA –

ULM (4-13, 1-5 Sun Belt) looks to end its three-game losing streak at UT Arlington on Saturday, Jan. 20, with tipoff set for 2 p.m. The Warhawks also are seeking their first road win (0-10) of the season.

 

ULM leads the all-time series, 34-24, including a 15-13 record in games played in Arlington. UTA has won last four meetings. The Lady Mavericks swept the regular-season series a year ago, winning 93-59 in the College Park Center and 83-47 in Monroe.

 

THE STARTING FIVE –

• ULM senior forward Gabriella Cortez ranks among the Sun Belt's Top 10 in five different statistical categories: three-point field-goal percentage (first at .448), three-point field goals made (second at 2.7 per game), scoring (fourth at 16.6 ppg.), field-goal percentage (seventh at .492), free-throw percentage (eighth at .780) and rebounding (10th at 5.8 pg.). She has led the team in scoring in 11 of its 17 games.

 

Cortez has increased her scoring average to 20.3 points per game in Sun Belt games. She scored 87 points during a recent three-game stretch (29.0 ppg.) while hitting 53 percent (29-of-55) of her field-goal attempts, including 53 percent (15-of-29) from behind the 3-point arc.

 

Cortez poured in a career-high 32 points to lead ULM to its first Sun Belt win of the season, 62-56, over Coastal Carolina. She made 11-of-19 shots from the field, including 6-of-12 3-pointers, and collected eight rebounds. Cortez scored 18 of her 32 points in the first quarter against the Chanticleers.

 

The Natchitoches, Louisiana, native scored 19 of her game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter against App State, as ULM tried to rally from an 18-point deficit. Cortez connected 9-of-17 field-goal attempts against the Mountaineers, including 6-of-9 from behind the 3-point line.

 

She netted 19 second-half points on her way to a game-high 27 at the Ragin' Cajuns, connecting on 9-of-19 field-goal attempts including 3-of-8 3-pointers.

 

• ULM's playing rotation features six newcomers, including four freshmen (Arsula Clark, Whitney Goins, Diamond Brooks and Breanna Stephens) and two JUCO transfers (Tan Walker and Alexus Johnson).  Those six newcomers have combined to average 26.9 points, 15.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game.

 

• In conference play, true freshman Arsula Clark leads the team in rebounding (5.7 per game) and assists (2.2 pg.) while ranking second in scoring (11.2 ppg.). The 5-foot-9 Clark has scored in double figures in three of her last four games. She contributed 13 points (5-of-10 FG shooting), five rebounds and two steals at Texas State. Clark played a solid all-around game at Louisiana-Lafayette with 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and three steals. She finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and three assist in ULM's 62-56 victory over Coastal Carolina. Clark scored 17 points in the Sun Belt opener at Arkansas State, hitting 8-of-15 shots from the field.

• As a team, ULM ranks among the Sun Belt leaders in field-goal percentage (fourth at .399), three-point field-goal percentage (fifth at .329), three-point field goals made (fifth at 5.9 pg.), blocked shots (fifth at 3.5 per game) and steals (sixth at 7.5 pg.).

 

• ULM's 2017-18 women's basketball schedule features 12 games against opponents that appeared in the 2017 postseason, including two NCAA Tournament participants (Auburn and Troy) and four National Invitation Tournament participants (Grambling, Oklahoma State, Little Rock and UTA).
 

THE LAST TIME OUT –

San Marcos, Texas (Jan. 18, 2018) – Taeler Deer and Toshua Leavitt combined for 55 points to lead Texas State to an 86-52 victory over ULM Thursday in Strahan Coliseum. Deer and Leavitt shot a combined 11-of-19 from 3-point range.

 

There were four lead changes and one tie in the first quarter. ULM went on a 6-0 run and took its first lead at 7-6 on Tan Walker's jumper from the left elbow with 5:12 left. Two free throws by Diamond Brooks gave the Warhawks a 9-8 advantage with 3:30 remaining. Deer scored the game's next 12 points, including a four-point play, as Texas State moved out to a 20-9 lead. Brooke Holle buried a 3-pointer from the right wing with 50 seconds to play in the opening period to give the Bobcats a 23-11 lead.

 

A 3-pointer by Ti'Aria Pitts extended Texas State's lead to 13 at 28-15 with 7:34 remaining in the second quarter. A 3-pointer by Gabriella Cortez from the right wing sparked an 8-2 spurt as ULM pulled to within four at 30-26 on Walker's 3-pointer from the top of the circle with 5:19 left in the first half. The Warhawks cut their deficit to four on three more occasions in the second period at 32-28, 34-30 and 36-32. Deer scored the last seven points of the second quarter to send the Bobcats to the locker room with an 11-point lead at 43-32. She hit 9-of-12 first-half field-goal attempts, including 4-of-6 3-pointers, for 25 points.

 

Texas State (12-6, 5-2 Sun Belt) shot 55 percent (16-of-29) from the field in the first half, including 47 percent (8-of-17) from behind the 3-point arc. ULM (4-13, 1-5) also shot the ball well in the opening 20 minutes, hitting 44 percent (12-of-27) from the floor, including 3-of-6 3-pointers (50 percent).

 

The Bobcats broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring ULM, 27-11. Leavitt netted 11 of her 19 points in the third period.

 

Deer made 13-of-20 field-goal attempts, including 6-of-9 3-pointers, and finished with a game-high 36 points. She also recorded seven assists and three steals in 29 minutes.

 

Texas State converted ULM's 22 turnovers into 33 points.

 

Walker led the Warhawks with a season-high 15 points, hitting 6-of-9 shots from the floor. Arsula Clark connected on 5-of-10 shots from the field and totaled 13 points.

 

ULM/UT ARLINGTON SERIES NOTES –

Saturday's game marks the 59th meeting between ULM and UT Arlington. The Warhawks lead the all-time series, 34-24, including a 15-13 record in games played in Arlington. UTA has won last four meetings. The Warhawks' last win in Strahan Coliseum came on Jan. 8, 2015, 63-51.

 

The Lady Mavericks swept the regular-season series a year ago, winning 93-59 in the College Park Center and 83-47 in Monroe.

THE LAST MEETING –

UT Arlington 83, ULM 47 (March 2, 2017, in Monroe, La.) – Rebekah VanDijk scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead UT Arlington to an 83-47 win over ULM in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

 

The Lady Mavericks raced out to a 13-0 lead and never looked back en route to a 21-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. VanDijk netted 10 points in the first 10 minutes, hitting all five of her field-goal attempts. The Warhawks went 0-for-6 from the floor in the opening period, including 0-for-5 from behind the 3-point arc.

 

UTA outscored ULM, 19-12, in the second quarter to build a 40-14 halftime lead. The Warhawks hit 26 percent (6-of-23) from the field in the first half, including 0-for-8 on 3-point attempts.

 

The Lady Mavericks outscored the Warhawks, 43-33, in the second half.

 

UTA shot 56 percent (37-of-66) from the field, including 41 percent (7-of-17) from 3-point range, and outrebounded ULM, 33-22. The Lady Mavericks scored 34 points off 23 Warhawk turnovers.

 

VanDijk finished 11-of-14 from the field while UTA also got 15 points from Crystal Allen and 14 from Christina Devers.

 

Alexis Collins led ULM with 10 points and seven assists.