HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The ULM women's basketball team overcame
a 16-point deficit in the second half with a 19-4 streak to grab a one-point lead with 2:52 to play before two free throws by
FIU pushed the Panthers to a 52-51 victory in the Convention Center Sunday afternoon.
A layup by Larrie Williams capped a late 12-0 run by the
Warhawks that held the Panthers scoreless for four-and-a-half minutes and propelled
ULM to just its second lead of the game 51-50. Michelle Gonzalez would make one of two
free throws to even the score 51-51 before another free throw by Fanni Hutlassa
gave FIU a 52-51 advantage with 18 seconds remaining. Elizabeth Torres threw up
a jumper at the buzzer for the potential game-winner, but it bounced off the
rim to end the game and the Warhawks' season.
Williams had a game-high 16 points to lead the Warhawks
while Torres was just one point shy with 15 on the night. Priscilla Mbiandja, Marion
Zollicoffer and Williams each grabbed a team-high five rebounds while Mbiandja
also had a team-high three assists. As a team, ULM shot 40.8 percent from the
field.
The loss ends ULM's season with a 16-15 record and a 9-7
mark in the SBC. Seniors Mbiandja, Jordan Rawson and Sannisha Williams also
competed in their last game as a Warhawk.
ULM went basket-for-basket with FIU to begin the game as
Larrie Williams scored six of ULM's first eight points including back-to-back
layups to even the score 8-8 at the 14:06 mark.
Both teams hit a scoreless three-and-a-half minute stretch
over the middle of the first half until a layup by FIU's Gonzalez at
the 10:30 mark broke the tie 10-8. Courtney responded with a layup plus a bonus
shot to give ULM its only lead of the half 11-10.
FIU reclaimed the lead with a 7-4 run to go up 18-14 when
the Warhawks responded with an 8-4 streak to knot the score again 22-22 with
3:02 remaining before the half. The Panthers would score seven
unanswered points to end the first half with a 29-22 advantage.
ULM closed the deficit to five points 31-26 to start the
second half before a layup and two free throws by Jerica Coley sparked a 15-4 spree for
the Panthers to extend their lead to 46-30 with 9:18 to play.
ULM slowly started mounting its comeback with seven unanswered points to close the deficit to nine points 46-37 before FIU scored two baskets plus another ULM jumper to make the score 50-39 with 6:07 to play.
FIU's Finda Mansare led the Panthers with the only
double-double of the evening as she scored 13 points and pulled down a
team-high 10 boards. Coley had a team-high 15 points while Gonzalez also
contributed 12. As a team, FIU shot 36.2 percent from the field.
