MONORE, La. - - ULM
(9-20, 7-13) collected its third season-sweep of the season over UL-Lafayette (9-19, 3-16) on Saturday
afternoon, 64-50.
Ashleigh Simmons collected her ninth double-double of the
season with a career-high 27 points and 14 rebounds. Her nine such performances
are tied for third in the Sun Belt. Her 27 points match the most scored by a
Warhawk this season (Shaw scored 27 points against Southern Miss on Dec. 9).
Christina Gray finished with 10 rebounds while Alexar Tugler scored 14 points.
At the arrival of the first media timeout, the two teams
were tied at 5-5 with 15:22 left before halftime. Simmons scored the first five
points of the game for the Warhawks.
ULM took a 14-12 on a layup from Jasmine Shaw at the
10-minute mark. The Warhawks led for and Shaw extended its lead to 27-21 with a
three-point play with under a minute left before the break. That would be the
score at halftime as Simmons led the way with 11 points and eight rebounds.
The Warhawks shot 45.8% and collected 18 points in the
paint.
Simmons continued her strong performance with a basket at
the 16:40 mark in the second half, giving ULM a 33-25 advantage. The Ragin'
Cajuns went ice cold, shooting only 19% at the 11:47 mark, as ULM led 41-34.
ULL pulled within three at the 10-minute mark, 43-40. Simmons collected her 20th point to give the
Warhawks a 45-40 lead with 7:57 remaining.
Alexar Tugler knocked down a three-pointer to extend lead to
49-44 with 5:48 left in the game. The run reach 9-0 and ULM led 55-44 with 3:43
to play.
The Warhawks would cruise to its seventh Sun Belt victory,
64-50, as ULL shot just 21% for the game.
The Warhawks will begin play in the Sun Belt Championship on
Friday at noon. ULM will await official word on its matchup.
Coach Mona Martin
Quotes
"UL-Lafayette is an interesting matchup because they are smaller but are
very quick. I was happy with the way we got into out game and obviously
(Ashleigh) Simmons was huge for us today."
"It is important for us to be confident going into the Sun
Belt Championship and these two wins give us a good chance in Hot Springs."
"I like where we are at right now as a team. Things are
improving and the girls are maturing at the right time."
