MONROE, La. – ULM returned from its 11-day break and lost a hard-fought 57-54 decision to Appalachian State on Thursday in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
There were 10 lead changes over a 3:58 span in the fourth quarter before Bria Carter's layup with 2:41 left gave Appalachian State a 53-52 lead for good. Daja Chase's game-tying attempt from the top of the key bounced off the rim.
“You never really know what to expect in the first game after Christmas break,” head coach Jeff Dow said. “I thought our stamina was less than it needed to be. You try to play catchup with practices after the break.”
The game turned in ULM's favor after an 11-2 run over a 3:20 span from the third-fourth quarters. Ashley Aune nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key that tied the game at 41, the first since the second quarter. Alayshia Hunter followed up with a shot high off the glass that gave ULM its first lead since the 2:15 point of the first period.
Hunter scored a game-high 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting, all in the second half. She played just four minutes in the first.
Jamie Gibson's high-arching three-pointer gave ULM a 15-13 lead late in the first quarter. The two teams were tied at 15 after that first intermission, with Appalachian State shooting 54 percent of the field and ULM at 46 percent.
Chelsea Tieuel hit both of her free-throw attempts with 3:11 to play in the first half, giving ULM a 21-20 lead for the first time of the quarter. The Mountaineers fought back with a Kaila Craven deep ball and KeKe Cooper layup to go back up, 25-21.
“We gave up some critical offensive rebounds and there were times on transition defense where we would give up points or make a foul,” Dow said. “You also have to string together baskets or stops and we didn't do much of that.”
Appalachian State (4-6, 1-0 SBC) hit consecutive field goals to open the second half with a 31-23 lead, its largest of the game until Joi Jones hit two foul shots with 50 seconds left in the third that extended the visitors' lead to 39-30.
ULM (6-5, 0-2 SBC) begins its foray into the full Sun Belt slate of Thursday-Saturday swings. The Warhawks have a 5:05 p.m. tip-off at Arkansas State before ending the trip up north with a 4 p.m. Saturday contest at Little Rock.
Inside (and beyond) the Box Score
-ULM had two starting lineups for the first nine games of the season and has had two newer ones each of the last two contests. Hunter, Jackson, Aune, Chase and Tieuel started against Appalachian State.
-The Warhawks held Appalachian State without a three-pointer for the second half (six attempts).
-The Mountaineers' two makes from long range marked the lowest against ULM since LSU had one on seven attempts on Nov. 15 (that shot came in overtime).
-Ashley Aune made two of her four attempts from behind the arc. She has made 20 of her last 39 shots from deep.
-Chelsea Tieuel had three steals. Her 24 coming into the game were fourth in the Sun Belt.
-Andreanna Jackson had a career-best three swipes as well. Her eight rebounds also tied a career-high (Nov. 29).
-Daja Chase had a game-high nine rebounds on the heels of a career-high 13 on Dec. 19.
-Aundrea Davis had five rebounds, one off a career-high she set on Nov. 29 at Southeastern Louisiana.
