HATTIESBURG, Miss. - A career-high 28 points
from senior Larrie Williams was not enough to complete a second half comeback,
as the ULM women's basketball team fell to Southern Miss 77-74 Saturday evening
inside Reed Green Coliseum.
The Warhawks forced 25 turnovers, recorded 14
steals and added 34 points in the paint.
The 28-point output from Williams was the highest single-game total by a ULM player since Terri Butler scored 31 against Texas-San Antonio in 1997-98.
Southern Miss opened up the largest lead of
the game (47-36) with a jumper from Wendy Miller at the 15:14 mark of the
second half. The Warhawks clawed back within
five points at 49-44 on four free throws from sophomore Ashleigh Simmons and senior
Elizabeth Torres.
ULM (1-9) closed the gap to two (58-56) on a layup
by sophomore Shantrell Pierson, but the Lady Eagles countered with a 10-2 run
to retake a 10-point advantage at 68-58.
Torres finished a coast-to coast layup and
then stole the ensuing inbounds pass, feeding Williams to pull within five
points (69-64). A layup by freshman Christina
Gray closed the deficit to 71-68 with just 2:15 left on the clock.
Torres scored eight points and added eight
assists, while Simmons added seven points and four rebounds. Gray chipped in a career-high six points.
Williams scored the first points of the game
on a nice layup inside to put ULM in front 2-0.
Southern Miss responded with a hoop from Niesha Pierce to even the score
at 2-2. A deep jumper from Shaw and another
lay in from Williams added to a 6-2 Warhawks start.
Southern Miss (3-5) claimed its first lead of
the game as part of a 15-4 run (16-10) at the 11:33 mark of the half. The Warhawks responded with a jumper from
Ashleigh Simmons to close the deficit to 16-12.
ULM finished the half on a 10-6 run to head to
the locker room trailing by just one, 33-32.
Williams led all scorers with 14 points, while Simmons chipped in five
points and four rebounds.
The Lady Eagles opened the second frame on a
7-0 run to take its largest lead of the ball game (40-32). Marion Zollicoffer finished an offensive
rebound on the next ULM possession to draw the Warhawks within six at 40-34.
Jamierra Faulkner paced Southern Miss with 20
points and nine assists, while Tanecka Carey added 16 points.
ULM returns to action Dec. 16 at No. 9 Miami
in Coral Gables, Fla.
