ULM Warhawks

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- ULM (7-20, 5-13) led in the second half, 35-34, but Middle Tennessee (20-7, 15-3) controlled the final 15 minutes and cruised to the 74-53 win in the final road game of the regular season for the Warhawks.

Alexar Tugler led ULM with 17 points while Ashleigh Simmons finished with seven points and nine rebounds.

Middle Tennessee hit 13 three-pointers, a season-high allowed by ULM this season. Kortni Jones hit eight of those three-pointers (a career-high) and led all scorers with 30 points. Caroline Warden finished with a career-high 16 points while Icelyn Elie collected a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

The Blue Raiders sprinted to a 9-4 lead at the arrival of the first media timeout with 15:27 left in the first half. Defensive pressure and an Elexar Tugler three-pointer capped a 7-0 run to tie the game at 9-9 and forced the home team to call a timeout at the 14-minute mark.

Alayshia Hunter collected her second block of the game before hitting a jumper to keep the game tied at 11-11 at the 12-minute media timeout. A four-minute Middle Tennessee scoring drought ended with a three-pointer from Caroline Warden at the 9:15 mark, giving the Blue Raiders a 14-11 advantage.

ULM turnovers led to an 18-13 lead for Middle Tennessee with 6:38 left before halftime.  Jones knocked down a triple extending the home lead to 25-17 at the 3:39 mark. Christina Gray came in off the bench and hit a jumper to cut deficit to three at 27-24 with two minutes left before the break.

Jasmine Taylor ended the first half with a layup to put the halftime score at 30-28. Elexar and Alexar Tugler led ULM with five points each while Hunter finished the half with four points, five rebounds and two blocks. Elie led all scorers with 10 points and pulled down six boards. The Warhawks shot 40% (12-of-30) to end the half.

The Warhawks collected its first lead since the beginning of the game, 35-34, on an Elexar Tugler layup before Jones answered immediately with her fourth three-pointer of the day to give Middle Tennessee the 37-35 lead.

The Blue Raiders began to pull away after another three-pointer from Jones followed by a jumper from Warden, making it 47-38 at the 12:40 mark. Five straight Warhawk turnovers supplemented the run.

The deficit reached 17 points, 57-40, after two free throws from Jones with 8:55 to play.  

Middle Tennessee sprinted to the finish line and led 71-51 at the final media timeout at the two-minute mark. The Blue Raiders collected its 20th win of the season on Senior Night, 74-53.