MIAMI -- ULM
(6-15, 4-8) won its third straight Sun Belt game on Saturday afternoon over FIU (13-9, 7-6), 71-61. ULM led for
35:08 of the 40 minutes.
The Warhawks collected its first three-game Sun Belt winning
streak since Jan. 26, 2011 with wins over North Texas, UL-Lafayette and
Arkansas State.
Alexar Tugler led ULM with 18 points while Jasmine Shaw
scored 12 and Alayshia Hunter and Ashleigh Simmons finished with 11. ULM shot
48% (29-of-60) and committed just 10 turnovers,
Jerica Coley matched her career-high with a game-high 39 points.
FIU led 8-4 at the arrival of the first media timeout with
15:21 left on the clock as Coley was getting good looks and connecting.
Alexar Tugler cleaned up her own miss to give ULM its first
lead, 9-8, at the 14:15 mark. ULM used an 11-0 run to extend lead to 13-8 with
just under 13 minutes to play before the break.
FIU regained its early form and led 22-19 at the 7:10 mark. The
Warhawks took the lead back, 25-24, on a layup from Alexar Tugler at the 4:15
mark.
Alexar Tugler knocked down a three-pointer and followed with
a layup to give ULM a 32-24 lead with 2:13 to play. At halftime, the Warhawks
led 32-27 behind 13 points from Alexar. ULM shot 40% (14-for-35) and committed
just four turnovers. Coley scored 22 of FIU's 27 points in the first half.
ULM stretched its lead to 36-29 with 16:52 left in the game.
Alexar Tugler continued to carry the Warhawks with another triple, giving ULM a
41-32 lead at the 13:40 mark.
A fast break basket from Sharnice Brooks gave ULM a 46-39
lead with just under 11 minutes to play. Jae Shin connected on her first triple
of the game to match ULM's largest lead up to that point, 49-41, at the
10-minute mark.
The offense went cold and was clinging on to a 49-46 lead
with 7:55 remaining. ULM went nearly four minutes without a field goal until Shin knocked down her second three-pointer of the game to make it 53-48 at
the seven-minute mark and slow an FIU run.
Simmons converted a three-point play at the 3:04 mark,
extending lead to 66-58. The Warhawks would control the final minutes and
collect the 71-61 victory.
ULM will return home to meet UALR on Thursday at
5:15 p.m.
Coach Mona Martin Quotes
"After the way we started, to win three straight games is special. It is remarkable, really. I cannot say enough about how proud I am of this team. Coley matched her career-high with 39 but towards the end she seemed to get tired and missed some shots."
"We need to improve on the offensive glass but we were helping so much on the weak side that it was a struggle to get into position to rebound."
"To have just 10 turnovers is the best thing about tonight. We have so many mre chances to get good looks and that is what the game is all about."
"I think the turning point has been the team's togetherness and unity. During one of the late timeouts, I heard our girls saying stick together and we will win this game, so that has been a nice transformation."
"We are a confident team right now. We got sick of losing, it is time for us to start winning. We are more focused in everything we do."
