TROY, Ala. -- ULM
(3-12, 1-5) used clutch free throws in the second half to pick up its first Sun
Belt win of the season at Troy (3-12, 0-6) on Thursday afternoon, 75-69. The Warhawks
have now won three straight over the Trojans and five of the last six meetings.
Five Warhawks scored in double-figures for the first time since Feb. 18, 2002.
Elexar Tugler led the way with 13 points. Alexar Tugler and Jasmine Shaw chipped in 12 points apiece while Ashleigh Simmons collected 11 and Jae Shin scored 10
points.
As a team, the Warhawk defense held the Trojans to just 30.4 percent from the field for the game, including 25 per cent from beyond the arc (6-of-24).
ULM went 23-of-30 from the free throw line. ULM out-rebounded
Troy 50-49, thanks in part to a strong effort from Christina Gray, who pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds.
The Warhawks caused four early turnovers and led 4-0 to open
the contest. Shin continued her strong shooting and knocked down two 3-pointers and ULM led 10-9 with 13:35 left in the half.
A 7-0 run gave the visitors a 17-12 lead with nine minutes
left before halftime. ULM led 21-20 at the seven-minute media timeout.
Shaw knocked down a triple to stretch ULM's lead to 28-22,
with just over four minutes left before the break. At halftime, ULM trailed
33-32, as Elexar Tugler and Shin led the way with six points each.
The Trojans jumped out to 41-36 advantage with 16:54 left in
the second half. Alayshia Hunter grabbed an offensive rebound and tied the game
at 41-41at the 15:40 mark.
Tyler Holley gave ULM a 51-49 lead with 13:19 on the clock
on a great assist from Alexar Tugler. Simmons was forced to head to
the bench with her fourth foul as Troy trimmed deficit to one, 55-54, with
10:16 left in the game.
The Warhawks held onto a three-point lead, 59-56, with 7:42
remaining. ULM struggled to connect from the field and a seven-minute field
goal drought allowed Troy to hang around.
Alexar Tugler ended a nearly eight minute long field goal drought to give the Warhawks a 63-62 lead with 3:38 left in the game. Shortly after, an excellent
move from Simmons gave pushed the lead to three at 65-62.
Shin knocked down a 25-footer to beat the shot clock to give the Warhawks a 68-62 lead with 1:43 on the clock.
Clutch free throws down the stretch sealed the win for ULM.
Sun Belt power Middle Tennessee visits Fant-Ewing Coliseum
on Saturday for a 2 p.m. clash.
Coach Martin Quotes
"I was upset at halftime because in that last minute we gave
up a six-point lead and we turned the ball over twice and took a poor shot.
That was disappointing as went into the break."
"I talked at halftime how we need to take care of the ball.
We made them abandon their press. We will take anything under 20 turnovers."
"We were effective tonight against the zone. We got Jae a
couple good looks but I think the long three from Jae was the back-breaker."
"I love our effort and we are still doing some
things that freshman and sophomore do but we worked really hard. We kept
fighting."
