MONROE,
La. --- ULM used a balanced attack and a strong inside game to defeat
Northwestern State 62-57 Tuesday night inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
Jesse
Carrier and Kassie Courtney each scored nine points apiece to lead ULM (5-3).
Nine other Warhawk players scored at least a two points in the contest.
“Overall
we played at a higher intensity tonight,” ULM head coach Mona Martin said. “We
still had some mental breakdowns but those are things we can work on.”
Carrier
opened the game with five of ULM's first seven points during a 7-0 run in the
first 3:21. The Warhawks forced the Lady Demons into four turnovers and three
missed shots in the run.
NSU
(4-3) fought back to take the lead, 11-10, with 12:30 on the clock. Marion
Zollicoffer then scored on a jumper and layup after she stole the inbounds pass
to give the Warhawks a three point lead, 14-11, less than 30 seconds later.
Courtney
began and finished a 14-0 Warhawk scoring run over a 2:55 stretch near the end
of the first half to push the ULM cushion to 15 points, 34-19.
The
Warhawks shot 40 percent from the field on 14-of-35 shooting while the Lady
Demons were held to 29.2 percent on 7-of-24 from the field in the opening
period. ULM took a 36-24 lead into the locker rooms.
ULM
started the second half ice cold from the field with two field goals on 11
attempts in the first 6:21. The Lady Demons used the Warhawks' poor shooting to
cut the deficit to as little as four points several times in the half.
The
Warhawks bench would come through and help ULM maintain the advantage in the half
thanks to 24 points from the reserves. With the Lady Demons threatening in the
game's closing minutes, Lottie Moore sunk a pair of free throws with 7.9
seconds to give ULM a five point lead and seal the deal.
The
Warhawks hustled on the boards and finished with a 12-rebound advantage in
offensive rebounds. ULM also enjoyed a 16-point scoring advantage in the paint,
36-20.
Northwestern
State shot 42.9 percent from the field compared to the Warhawks 31.9 percent.
ULM turned the ball over nine fewer times, 18-27.
Courtney
Shead led the Lady Demons with a game-high 15 points and added eight rebounds
and three blocks. Demetria White also
added 10 points for NSU along with five rebounds and six assists.
“I
am proud of us tonight,” Martin said. “We needed this win after two consecutive
losses.”
ULM
hits the road for its third-consecutive Southland non-conference game when it
faces McNeese State on Saturday at 2 p.m. inside the Civic Center in Lake
Charles, La.
