LAFAYETTE, La. – ULM was unable to recover from an early 10-point lead that ultimately led to a 52-40 loss to UL Lafayette inside the Cajundome on Tuesday afternoon.
“We were trying to limit their chances in the paint and at the line, and they had only 12 free-throws,” head coach Jeff Dow said. “Simone Fields probably had one of the best games of her career with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Playing the zone as much as we did, I never really expected them having such a big advantage on points in the paint.”
The Warhawks (9-11, 3-8 SBC) were in an early hole but stayed the course by getting to the free-throw line 10 times in the first quarter. The Ragin' Cajuns got their largest lead of the first half, 14-4, on a Taylor Washington three-pointer at the 2:32 mark.
ULM came back with a 9-2 run that got it within 16-13 after a Chelsea Tieuel deep ball, her ninth points of the game just over a minute into the second quarter. Journee Beard's three-pointer on an Ashley Aune baseline inbounds pass sent the visitors into the locker room on a high note, trailing just 26-20.
UL Lafayette (16-4, 9-2 SBC) got the first bucket of the third quarter, but ULM rallied to within 28-25 thanks to two field goals and a block from Alayshia Hunter.
The two squads played a 12-12 third quarter that saw the margin shift between three and eight points.
ULM will look to avenge the loss when it flies to Boone, N.C., for a Saturday tilt with Appalachian State. Tip-off is set for noon CT.
Inside (and beyond) the Box Score
-The visiting team had won the previous five contests in the series before Tuesday. ULM now leads the all-time series 40-10.
-ULL was 1-for-12 from behind the arc. It was ULM's best showing in that category since Appalachian State went 1-for-16 last Valentine's Day in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. It was the third time in the Jeff Dow era that the opponent made just one triple (LSU, Nov. 15, 2015).
-ULM committed a season-low nine turnovers.
-Alayshia Hunter is now 29 points away from becoming ULM's 18th member of the 1,000-point club.
-Chelsea Tieuel scored a team-high 17 points. She has had 16 or more in four of the last six games.
-Ashley Aune tied a career-high with three steals in the first half before ending up with a game-high four.
-Aundrea Davis tied a season-best 38 minutes. She has played 30 min or more in each of the last five games after having just one of those all year prior. She also tied a career-high with a trio of swipes.
-Daja Chase extended her made-foul shot streak to 13 after making both her attempts.
