MONROE, La. -- Ashleigh Simmons joined the 1,000 career-point club as the ULM women's basketball program battled to a 76-70 victory over South Alabama on Wednesday evening at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
Simmons needed three points coming into the game to reach the 1,000 plateau and recorded it on a free throw after a converted old-fashioned three point play at the 16:58 mark. With the free throw, she became the 17th player to score 1,000 points in ULM (10-17, 6-9 SBC) history. She finished the contest tied for a team-high 15 points.
Alexar Tugler registered 15 points and Sharnice Brooks added 14 off the bench, including 13 in the second half. Jasmine Shaw and Christina Gray also finished in double-figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Gray was one rebound shy of a double-double with a game-high nine boards.
The Warhawks led by as many as 10 points with 6:08 left in the contest and held off a late 10-0 spurt from the Jaguars (7-18, 5-10 SBC). ULM sealed the game from the free throw line and finished 26-of-33. The Warhawks held a 40-30 advantage on the boards and 26-18 advantage in points scored in the paint.
South Alabama's Breanna Hall notched a game-high 26 points while Meghan Dunn aided the attack with 15 points and eight assists.
In the first half, Alexar Tugler helped cut a six-point Warhawk deficit to two at 14-12 with a three-pointer at the 12:15 mark. After she tied the game, she put the Warhawks ahead 15-14 with 10:31 remaining with a pair of free throws to cap a 10-3 run.
Jasmine Taylor hit back-to-back buckets to give the Warhawks a 23-18 advantage, their largest of the half. The Jaguars responded and regained the lead, 26-24, at the 4:10 mark. Simmons hit a lay-up with 1:20 left to give ULM a 28-26 lead heading into the intermission. ULM's defense kept South Alabama off the board for the final four minutes of the opening stanza.
The seesaw battle continued early in the second half until the Warhawks used a 9-0 run to create distance at 62-52 with 6:25 to go. The spurt was fueled by a three-pointer by Alexar Tugler and a jumper from Brooks. A pair of free throws from Simmons capped the spurt.
USA responded with a 7-0 rally to creep within three with just over four minutes left. USA's Hall made it a one point ULM lead at the 2:40 mark by hitting a long-range shot from the corner. However, the Warhawks made free throws down the stretch to preserve the victory.
ULM will return to action Saturday for the final home contest of the season and Senior Day against Troy. The action tips off at 2 p.m. at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
For more updates on the women's basketball program, follow @ULM_WBB on Twitter.
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