COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Junior guard Kassie Courtney's
career-high 18 points weren't enough to keep the ULM women's basketball team
from suffering its biggest loss of the season at the hands of No. 5 Texas
A&M Tuesday evening as the Warhawks fell 105-57 in Reed Arena.
Despite cutting the Aggies' lead to just eight points
(29-21) off back-to-back free throws by junior guard Elizabeth Torres with 9:42
left in the first half, the Warhawks fell flat offensively as Texas A&M
went on a 20-5 streak to take a 23 point lead with 2:04 remaining before the
break. ULM was unable to overcome the deficit during the second half after
being outscored by more than double 54-23.
Courtney was one of just two Warhawks to reach double-digits
for the evening as she made a career-high five 3-pointers in eight attempts and
went 6-for-12 from the field. Junior center Larrie Williams contributed 10
points with a 4 for 8 performance while Courtney also grabbed a team-high 5
rebounds and Torres dished out six assists. ULM shot 37.3 percent from the
field including a season-high 57.1 percent performance from long range.
The Aggies ruled defensively throughout the contest and
forced 36 turnovers with 19 steals to just 13 turnovers of their own and six
steals by the Warhawks. Despite struggling defensively, ULM held strong under
the basket and outrebounded Texas A&M by two 33 to 31. ULM ranks ninth in
the nation in rebounding margin (12.9).
Danielle Adams was the leading scorer for the Aggies after
putting up a game-high 32 points followed by Tyra White's 22 points and Sydney
Carter's 11. Adams also contributed a game-high seven rebounds while Adrienne
Pratcher had eight assists. Texas A&M had the best shooting performance ULM
has faced this season as they made 61.9 percent of their shots from the field.
ULM (8-7, 2-0 SBC) was the first to score with a Torres free throw before Texas A&M (12-1, 0-0 Big 12) jumped out to a 12-1
lead, holding the Warhawks to just one shot over the first four minutes of the
half with aggressive defensive play.
ULM kept Texas A&M from dominating offensively early
with a 50.0 percent shooting performance from the 3-point range during the
first half. Courtney drained a 3-pointer at the 13:08 mark to spark a 12-7 run
that cut Texas A&M's lead to just eight (29-21) with 9:42 before the half.
After the Aggies took their biggest lead of the first half
49-26 at the 2:04 mark, quick back-to-back 3-pointers by Courtney and Torres
and another Courtney layup inched the Warhawks to within 17 at the half 51-34.
An 18-0 Texas A&M spree on the strength of 10 points by Adams early in the second half sealed the Warhawks' fate as the Aggies
took a commanding 32 point lead 74-42 with 14:02 left in the game.
Two free throw shots by Sydney Carter put the Aggies over
the century mark with 3:01 to play, as a 15-3 run over the final minutes ended
the game with a 105-57 score.
ULM returns to Fant-Ewing Coliseum this weekend to continue
Sun Belt Conference play when the Warhawks host Denver Saturday at 3 p.m. as
part of a doubleheader with the men's basketball team who will also face Denver
at 1 p.m.
