MONROE, La. – The Warhawks used an impressive comeback in the second half to force two overtime periods, but it was not enough as the ULM women's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking 68-65 decision to UL-Lafayette on Thursday night in Fant-Ewing Coliseum in front of 3502 people.
“I'm extremely proud of the team for competing the way they did to make that comeback,” said head coach Jeff Dow. “I'm really proud of the resiliency and the toughness we showed there.”
Despite falling behind by as many as 16, the Warhawk (10-13, 6-8 SBC) defense stepped up and prevented ULL (16-7, 8-6 SBC) from scoring any field goals from the 15:37 mark in the second half until 1:46 remaining in regulation.
This is the largest crowd Fant-Ewing Coliseum has seen for a women's game since Feb. 3, 1994, when ULM faced Stephen F. Austin in front of 3,544 people.
Sharnice Brooks had a career-high 29 points to lead the team. The senior also garnered seven rebounds and four blocks on the night.
Alayshia Hunter chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds, while Daja Chase had six points, seven rebounds, and two each of assists, steals and blocks.
Jaylyn Gordon led the Cajuns with 29 points.
The lead changed four times over the first four minutes of the second half before the Cajuns used a 9-2 spurt to jump ahead by six, 14-8, but Chase used a massive block with 14:12 to give the Warhawks a spark.
ULM cut the lead to 14-12 with 11:03 remaining in the half as Hunter and Brooks sank back-to-back buckets.
ULL went on a 12-4 run to take their largest lead of the half, but Chelsea Tieuel nailed a jumper to end the half as the Warhawks trailed 29-23 heading into the locker room.
The Cajuns opened the half on a 10-0 stretch to take their largest lead of the game at 39-23 with 14:52 left, but the home team used a stout defensive effort and a 26-7 run of their own to take a three-point lead, 49-46 with 1:46 left in the regulation.
After the Cajuns tied the score, Brooks made another jumper to give the Warhawks the lead, but ULL matched the score to send the game to overtime with the contest knotted at 51-51.
Brooks hit a pair of free throws to give ULM a two-point lead, but UL-Lafayette hit a basket to tie the game at 53-53 with 3:12 left in the first overtime period.
The lead changed three times in the first overtime session before the Cajuns took a two-point lead with 26 seconds remaining.
ULL's Wilridge missed the second attempt from the charity stripe and Wharton grabbed the rebound. Chase nailed the layup to tie the game at 57-57, and ULM's defense prevented the Cajuns from scoring their last two attempts as time expired to send the game to a second overtime period.
Ashley Aune hit two free throws, followed by a Chase layup, to give the Warhawks a four-point lead with 3:45 left in the second overtime session.
UL-Lafayette hit back-to-back three-pointers to regain the lead as they captured the double-overtime victory over the Warhawks.
ULM will take the court again on Feb. 14 for their Pink Game against Appalachian State. The game tips off at noon in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
