MONROE, La. - The South Alabama women's basketball
team shot a blistering 52 percent from the field, as it went on to earn a 74-62
Sun Belt Conference win over ULM on Wednesday night inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
South Alabama charged out of the gates to a 21
point lead, its largest of the contest, in the first 14 minutes. ULM was unable
to slow down the Jaguars as they shot over 60 percent for most of the first
half. South Alabama was also getting it done on the foul line, as it finished
17-for-23, compared to ULM's 5-for-8 at the charity stripe.
Tashley Gaines led South Alabama (11-6, 6-0)
with a career-high 22 points, which include a 10-for-12 performance at the free
throw line, and six rebounds. Shakira Nettles chipped in 14 points and grabbed
a team-high seven rebounds.
ULM (7-10, 1-6) was led by three players who
finished with 12 points in the game - Elizabeth Torres, Larrie Williams, and
Sannisha Williams. Priscilla Mbiandja also scored 10 points and hauled in a
game-high eight rebounds. Sumar Leslie chipped in six points, to go along with
three rebounds and three assists.
Overall, the Warhawk bench was outscored
41-21, but it did turn 11 Jaguar turnovers into 21 points on the offensive end
of the floor.
South Alabama used a 10-1 scoring run over a
three-and-a-half minute period to extend its double-digit lead to 21 points,
its largest lead of the game, with just over six minutes remaining in the
opening period. The Jaguars eventually took a 37-26 lead into the locker room
at the intermission.
South Alabama finished the first half 14-of-24
from the field for 58.3 percent, while ULM shot 11-of-31 from the floor for
35.5 percent.
Reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the
Week, Gaines, scored 11 points for the Jaguars and Mbiandja led ULM with six
points and five rebounds.
The Warhawks cut the deficit to nine points
in the second period, after Larrie Williams sank a jumper in the paint with
9:18 remaining in the game. ULM couldn't chisel its deficit to less than 10
points, as South Alabama continued to shoot above 50 percent.
ULM continues its three-game homestand on
Sunday when it hosts Denver at 12 p.m. in front of a Sun Belt Network televised
crowd. The game will take place inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum and will also be
broadcast on ESPN360.com.
