MONROE, La. - A season-low 12 turnovers and an
11-player balanced scoring attack powered the ULM women's basketball team to an
impressive 83-57 Sun Belt Conference triumph over Arkansas State Saturday
afternoon inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
The 26-point final was the largest margin of
victory in conference play for ULM (4-11, 2-0) since an 82-53 win over
UL-Lafayette on Feb. 11, 2009. The
Warhawks shot a season-best 52.3 percent (34-65) from the field, and their six
made 3-pointers were also team-high. ULM
held a 50-24 advantage scoring in the paint and a 30-19 edge in points off
turnovers
The Warhawks erupted out of the gate on a 14-2
run, capped by a layup from senior Larrie Williams. A pair of 3-pointers from Arkansas State's Lunden
Roberts cut the lead to 18-10, but ULM responded with a 5-0 surge to stretch
the advantage to 13 (23-10).
Arkansas State (5-9, 0-2) answered with a
12-5 run to close the deficit to 28-22 on the strength of a pair of 3-pointers
from Roberts and Meghan Lewis.
ULM closed the opening frame with a jumper
from sophomore Ashleigh Simmons to take a 38-26 lead into the break. Sophomore Alexar
Tugler paced the Warhawks with nine points and two blocked shots at the half,
while Williams added eight points, five rebounds and two rejections.
The Warhawks remained energized in the second
half, as successful drives to the basket from Tugler and senior Elizabeth
Torres pushed the lead to 16 (44-28). Arkansas
State battled to within 10 at 44-34 on a score from Quinishia McDowell at the
15:29 mark.
ULM then took control with a 19-8 spurt that
provided the hosts a 63-42 cushion. A
nice finish down low from Williams and a fast break layup from freshman Jae
Shin extended the lead to 67-46.
Williams and Tugler each led ULM with 16
points. Williams added seven rebounds
and tied a career-high with four blocks, while Tugler chipped in two blocks and
three steals. Torres finished with eight
points, six assists and three steals.
Roberts led the Red Wolves with 12 points,
and NeNe Hurst added 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
The Warhawks return to action Jan. 4 at 6
p.m. against Florida Atlantic.
