MONROE, La. -- ULM
(8-20, 6-13) collected its most comfortable win of Sun Belt season over FIU
(17-11, 11-8) on Thursday night, 74-63. The Warhawks take the lead in the
all-time series, 5-4.
Head coach Mona Martin collected her 250th all-time career
victory powered by Ashleigh Simmons' eighth double-double of the season of 17
points and 11 rebounds. Those eight performances are tied for fourth in the Sun
Belt Conference.
Jasmine Shaw finished with 11 points while the ULM defense held the
nation's leading scorer, Jerica Coley, under her season average, as she
finished with 25 points to lead all scorers. The Warhawk bench outscored the Panther
bench, 25-10.
Both teams started slow and were tied 4-4 at the arrival of
the first media timeout at the 15:25 mark. Two free throws from Alexar Tugler
gave the Warhawks an 8-4 lead at the 14-minute mark.
Alayshia Hunter grabbed a offensive rebound and connected on
a turnaround to give ULM a 13-8 advantage with 10 minutes to play before the
break. Simmons followed with a three-point play to extend lead to 16-10.
ULM held onto a 22-18 lead at the final media timeout of the
half with 3:54 remaining before the break. Jae Shin knocked in her third triple
of the half, giving ULM a 27-20 lead with under a minute to play.
At the break, the Warhawks led 29-22, powered by seven
points and eight rebounds from Simmons. Shin and Coley led all scorers with
nine points.
The second half opened with a three-pointer from Alexar
Tugler extending the lead to double-digits for the first time in the game at
32-22.
Both teams went cold but ULM led 39-32 at the 11:18 mark. FIU
would charge back and pull within four, 45-41, with 7:51 to play.
A Shaw fast break layup gave ULM with 3:30 remaining
and Simmons followed an easy bucket to stretch the lead to 56-45.
The Warhawks would cruise to the 74-63 win and snap a
four-game losing streak.
ULM will close out the regular season on Saturday with
UL-Lafayette at 2 p.m. In addition, it will be the annual "Pink Zone" game and
fans are encouraged to wear pink or purchase t-shirts with proceeds going to
the Northeast Louisiana Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.
Coach Mona Martin
Quotes
"This is the kind of win that I have been waiting for all
season. We executed well and played a nearly complete game."
"I am proud of our team because they showed that
this is what we could be, when we execute. They were on a mission tonight."
