LAFAYETTE, La. - A strong 23-point scoring
performance from senior Larrie Williams could not overshadow an early cold
shooting spell as the ULM women's basketball team dropped an 82-65 decision to
UL-Lafayette in the regular season finale Saturday night inside the Cajundome.
Williams moved past Chrissa Hailey (1983-87)
into the 14th position on the school's all-time scoring list, finishing 9-of-18
from the floor. The 6-2 center has now scored
1,062 points at ULM.
The Warhawks outscored the Ragin' Cajuns
32-28 in the paint and dominated second chance opportunities 22-4. ULM outrebounded the hosts 49-35, including a
27-6 advantage on the offensive glass.
Krystal Motley followed her own miss for
UL-Lafayette to open an early 2-0 lead. Sophomore
Jasmine Shaw tipped home an errant ULM attempt at the other end to tie the game
at 2-2. Motley drilled a 3-pointer from
the top of the key during UL-Lafayette's next possession for a 5-2 advantage.
Senior Elizabeth Torres sunk a deep triple
from the top of the key to close the ULM (9-20, 7-9) deficit to 10-9. Michelle Brunker countered with a layup to
make it 12-9 UL-Lafayette. Torres nailed
another 3-pointer following two Williams free throws to tie the contest at
14-all.
The Ragin' Cajuns (7-22, 1-15) embarked on a
19-0 run punctuated by a Nicole Morris 3-pointer to take the largest lead of
the half 40-18. ULM added four points to
its first half total but went to the break trailing 43-22. Williams and Torres each scored six points in
the opening frame to pace the Warhawks.
UL-Lafayette took its biggest lead of the
game after Motley hit a long 2-pointer with 15 minutes remaining in the second
half. Shaw connected on a pair of deep
3-pointers to give the Warhawks a spark.
A steal and finish at the other end by Motley extended the Ragin' Cajuns
advantage.
Williams hustled down the floor for a pair of
fastbreak layups to bring ULM within 17 (57-40). An and-1 by Williams closed the deficit to
just 57-43 with more than nine minutes to play.
Shaw connected on a 2-point basket from deep
in the right corner to draw the Warhawks back to 16 (63-47). Morris promptly responded with a triple that
extended the Ragin' Cajuns cushion to 66-47.
Freshman Taylor Maricle deposited her first
3-pointer of the contest to keep ULM rolling, and Williams put back an
offensive board for the old-fashioned three-point-play to draw within 14 at
72-58.
Shaw contributed 15 points, eight rebounds
and three steals for ULM, and Maricle added eight points and four
rebounds. Torres chipped in six points,
nine rebounds and five assists.
Motley scored 19 points to lead UL-Lafayette,
while Brown added 16 points and two steals.
ULM travels to Hot Springs, Ark. for the
first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on March 3. The start time and opponent have yet to be
determined.
