LAFAYETTE, La. – It took an extra five minutes, but the ULM women's basketball team downed in-state rival UL-Lafayette, 67-60, Monday night inside the Cajundome.
“Thrilling is an understatement,” said head coach Jeff Dow. “I'm really proud of the resiliency of our players. There were some times where we were teetering, but then someone would make a big play and bring us right back in. Just a solid all-around performance.”
The Warhawks (6-10, 2-5 SBC) shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and finished the night shooting 44.9 percent, while their defense limited the Cajuns (11-5, 3-4 SBC) to 34.9 percent from the field overall, including just 22.2 percent during the overtime period.
Sharnice Brooks scored a game-high 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had two blocks and one assist to lead the Warhawks.
Christina Gray grabbed 10 rebounds and added seven points and three steals.
Daja Chase and Chelsea Tieuel both chipped in nine points, with the former also collecting seven boards on the night.
Kia Wilridge led ULL with 14 points.
Brooks gave the Warhawks an early lead as she landed a jumper on the first possession of the game.
The lead switched five times over the next few minutes before ULL hit a layup and a three-pointer to take their largest lead of the game at 14-10 with 14:35 left in the half.
Ashley Aune sank a three-pointer of her own to help the Warhawks re-gain the lead, but the Cajuns matched the bucket on the other end for a 17-15 advantage with 11:38 before the break.
The three-pointer would be ULL's last field goal for over 11 minutes as the Warhawks' defense prevented the home team from scoring anything but a pair of free throws until the 31 second mark.
Alayshia Hunter's layup with 10:20 left in the half sparked this 14-5 run at the end of the half to give ULM a 29-22 lead heading into the locker room.
The Cajuns opened the second half with an 11-3 run to take a 33-32, but two free throws by Chase and a jumper by Brooks put the visitors back on top (36-35) with 13:28 remaining.
UL-Lafayette re-gained the lead with as Simone Fields hit a field goal, but Brooks matched the bucket with 8:46 left to give the Warhawks a 39-38 advantage.
The Cajuns then went hit two three-pointers for a five-point lead, their largest of the game, with 6:54 left.
The home team maintained the lead until Aundrea Davis and Tieuel both sank shots from beyond the arc to knot the game at 53-all with 25 seconds left in regulation.
As Tieuel hit her three-pointer, ULL racked up an off-the-ball foul to send Gray to the line. The senior hit both free throws for the lead, but the Cajuns hit two of their own, tying the game and sending it to overtime.
ULL started the scoring in the overtime period with a jumper, but Chase hit one of her own to tie the score at 57-57 with 3:31 left in overtime.
Brooks' shot gave the Warhawks the lead once again, but the home team tied it up with 1:38.
With the score knotted at 59-59, Gray went in for the layup and was fouled on the shot for the and-one. The senior remained calm under the pressure and sank the free throw to give the Warhawks a lead that they would not relinquish.
ULM's defense prevented the Cajuns from scoring any field goals in the last 1:15 of the game to preserve the 67-60 overtime victory in the Cajundome.
The Warhawks return to the court on Thursday as they host UT Arlington at 5:15 p.m. in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
