COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- ULM
(1-4) used a strong second half on Saturday night to edge Tennessee Tech (2-3),
59-48. The win snaps an eight-game
losing streak dating back to last season and evens the all-time series at 1-1.
Jasmine Shaw finished with a double-double as she led the
way for ULM with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Elexar Tugler scored 12 and
Alexar Tugler chipped in 11. Ashleigh Simmons finished with a game-high 12 boards.
ULM led 7-5 with 15:41 left in the half after a triple from
Elexar Tugler. Alexar Tugler followed with three-pointer of her own, giving the
Warhawks a 10-5 advantage.
Kellie Cook nailed a three-pointer to tie the game at 14-14
with 10:22 on the clock. TTU overtook ULM, 19-18, on another triple from Cook.
Shaw found room in the corner for an open three-point to tie
the game at 23-23 with less than five minutes before halftime. At the break, ULM
led 29-27 after a basket from Shaw with time expiring.
Elexar Tugler led all scorers with nine points while TTU's
bench outscored ULM's bench 20-2.
A Jenna Lee three-pointer gave ULM a 37-35 lead with 14:43
left in the game. TTU tied the game at 41-41 at the 10:45 mark after two free
throws from Molly Heady.
The game remained tied until Mariah Dean gave TTU a 45-43
lead at the seven-minute mark. Lee hit another triple to regain the lead,
46-45. Alexar Tugler converted a three-point play to give ULM a 48-45 lead.
With 3:32 left the Warhawks led 52-47.
Elexar Tugler drove to the basket for a layup and gave ULM a
54-48 lead with two minutes remaining. The Warhawks would make its free throws
and hold on for their first win of the season.
ULM returns to Fant-Ewing Coliseum to open Sun Belt play
with Western Kentucky on Thursday at 5:15 p.m.
Head Coach Mona Martin Quotes
"I thought we did a better job of taking care of the ball tonight. When we did make mistakes we did an excellent job of getting back on defense. We are still a young team so we have a tendency of walking back down the court after a turnover and give up easy lasyups. Our halfcourt defense is improving tremondously."
"We need learn how to manage the win and talk about some time management. I can see a lot of progress with our team, especially tonight."
"They are coming off a loss to Middle Tennessee in overtime. They have great shooters, that is what impressed me. We gave up two or three uncontestsed three-pointers and they hit them with pretty good defense on our part."
"I like to press but right now we need to have a better bench to do that. We need 10 kids to press and right now I'd say we have seven or eight. Jenna Lee came in and was huge tonight for us."
