MONROE,
La. - The ULM women's basketball team opened its season with an 87-73 victory
over Henderson State in its only exhibition game of the season on Monday
evening inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Warhawks used a 16-0 run spanning 4:22 early
in the second half to build a 19-point advantage and cruise to the victory.
Senior
forward Sannisha Williams led three ULM players in double figures with 19
points and six rebounds. Junior center Larrie Williams added 17 points, four
rebounds and three blocked shots, while junior guard Kassie Courtney totaled 14
points, including a 3-for-3 performance from the 3-point line.
"I
was proud of our effort for it being our first game," ULM coach Mona Martin
said. "I saw a lot of good things and we got to play everyone tonight. I
thought Kassie had a phenomenal game and I thought Eli (Elizabeth Torres) had a
good game."
After
Henderson State cut ULM's lead to 53-50 with 15:54 to play in the second half,
the Warhawks took advantage of the game with a 16-0 run, capped by a free throw
from Courtney at the 11:32 mark.
Larrie
Williams started the run when she converted a layup plus the foul for a 3-point
play to give the Warhawks a 56-50 lead. Junior forward Marion Zollicoffer added
a layup, then senior center converted a 3-point play to extend the Warhawks'
lead to double digits at 61-50 with 14:37 to play.
Back-to-back
layups from freshman guard Jasmine Shaw and Rawson pushed ULM's lead to 65-50
and Torres nailed a 3-pointer at the 11:54 mark to give the Warhawks an
18-point advantage.
The
Warhawks shot 51.5 percent for the game, including a sizzling 52.9 percent in
the second half. Henderson State finished the game shooting 43.4 percent from
the field. ULM also owned a 39-33 rebounding advantage in the game with 10
different players collecting at least one in the game.
ULM
opened up a double digit lead with a 9-0 run late in the first half. Sophomore
guard Nicole Tucker capped the run with a 3-pointer from the wing to give the
Warhawks a 45-31 lead with 1:11 to play in the half. The Warhawks held a 45-33
advantage at the break.
Jazmine
Ellis and Elisha Bowen each chipped in 13 points to pace Henderson State.
Nyesha Adams also netted 10 points for the Lady Reddies.
The
Warhawks will open the regular season on Friday by hosting New Orleans at 7
p.m. inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
