HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- ULM
(10-21, 7-13) battled Middle Tennessee (22-8, 17-3) all 40 minutes on Saturday
afternoon but the Blue Raiders held on for the 59-56 victory.
The contest featured 12 ties and 11 lead changes. Alexar
Tugler gave ULM a 49-48 lead with five minutes to play but that would be the
last time the Warhawks were ahead.
Alexar Tugler had an opportunity to tie the game with time expiring but
her shot fell short.
Sharnice Brooks led the way with ULM with a career-high 15
points. Jasmine Shaw chipped in 11 while Elexar Tugler had 10 points.
Icelyn Elie led all scorers with 17 points while Kortni
Jones and Ebony Rowe both had 16 points.
At the arrival of the first media timeout, ULM and Middle
Tennessee were tied at 2-2 with 15:35 on the clock. The Blue Raiders went on a
5-0 run to lead 7-2.
The Blue Raider defense caused havoc and stretched the lead
to 15-5 at the nine-minute mark. Middle Tennessee led 22-9 at the 4:50 mark.
The Warhawks closed the gap, 22-13, with three minutes left
before halftime. A three-point play from Sharnice Brooks cut the deficit to
24-18 with 1:51 to play. Brooks collected another bucket to beat the buzzer to
end the half and make the halftime score 26-20.
Brooks led ULM with seven points at the break while Icelyn
Elie led all scorers with 11 points.
ULM opened half on a 10-4 run. A turnaround from Brooks
followed by a bucket from Simmons made it 26-24 and Shaw tied the game
at 28-28 after another basket from Brooks.
Alexar Tugler gave ULM a 32-31 lead with 13:10 to play with
a driving layup. It was the first Warhawk lead since 2-0 at the 19:21 mark. She
followed with a three-pointer to give the Warhawks a 35-34 advantage with 11:37
remaining.
The Blue Raiders led 39-37 with 8:42 remaining. Shaw
gave the lead back to ULM with a triple, making it 40-39.
A fast break layup from Elexar Tugler have ULM a 45-43 lead
with 6:11 to play. The back-and-forth affair continued and two Middle Tennessee
free throws gave them the 50-49 lead with 4:52 to play.
Simmons picked up her fifth and final foul at the 4:13 mark.
Brooks continued to dominate the paint and tied the game at 51-51 with 3:43 to
play.
ULM trailed 55-53 with 1:40 to play and had possession of
the basketball. Elexar Tugler knocked down two free throws to tie the game at
55-55 with 55 seconds to play.
With 42 seconds remaining, ULM had the ball and trailed by
two points, 57-55. Shaw missed a free throw with a chance to tie the game at
57-57. The Blue Raiders knocked down two free throws to give them a 59-56 lead
with 10.8 seconds left
Middle Tennessee advance to the Sun Belt title game against
FIU in one semifinal.
The Warhawks' season ends with a record of 10-21.
