LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The ULM women's
basketball team fell 65-60 to Northern Iowa Friday on the first day of the New
Mexico State Tournament at the Pan American Center.
Trailing 63-60, junior guard
Elizabeth Torres missed a 3-pointer with one second remaining. Northern Iowa's
Jacqui Kalin converted two free throws for the final margin.
ULM shot 32.3 percent in the
second half, including 1-of-8 from 3-point range. The Warhawks finished the
game at 37.9 percent from the field.
Senior guard Priscilla Mbiandja
scored a season-high 19 points to lead ULM. Mbiandja, who had 13 points in the
first half, also had five rebounds, two assists and four steals in the game.
Torres provided 13 points, four
rebounds and an assist, while junior center Larrie Williams tallied 11 points and six rebounds.
Senior forward Sannisha Williams recorded her first double-double of the season
with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Northern Iowa took the lead for
good at 57-56 on a pair of free throws from Erin Brocka with 2:46 remaining in
the game. The Panthers extended their lead to 60-56 on a 3-pointer from Kalin a
minute later.
The Warhawks got within two at
62-60 on a jumper from Torres with 21 seconds left, before Kalin converted
1-of-2 free throws with 10 seconds left.
Kalin scored 11 of her team-high
15 points in the second half to rally Northern Iowa to the victory. K.K.
Armstrong added 14 points and Lizzie Boeck tallied 12 points and seven rebounds
for the Panthers.
The Warhawks limited Northern Iowa
to 27.3 percent shooting in the first half as they built a 10-point lead. ULM
went on an 11-0 run to take an 18-8 lead with 12:06 to play in the half. Torres
capped the run with a 3-pointer.
ULM led 30-26 at halftime.
ULM will face either New Mexico
State or Alcorn State tomorrow to conclude the tournament. Game time is to be
determined.
