MONROE, La. – Gabriella Cortez poured in a career-high 32 points to lead ULM to its first Sun Belt win of the season, 62-56, over Coastal Carolina Thursday (Jan. 4) in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
 
Cortez scored 18 of her 32 points in the first quarter, hitting 7-of-8 field-goal attempts including 4-of-5 3-pointers. ULM outscored Coastal Carolina, 14-2, over the last 7:04 to build a 22-7 lead in the opening period. Cortez scored 11-straight points for the Warhawks during one stretch.
 
ULM (4-10, 1-2 Sun Belt) built its largest lead at 24-7 on a jumper by Jessica Harris to open the second quarter. The Chanticleers outscored the Warhawks, 12-8, in the second quarter to pull to within 30-19 at halftime.
 
Cortez buried a 3-pointer from the left baseline and Arsula Clark drove the left baseline for a layup as ULM pushed its lead back to 14 at 41-27 with 6:10 left in the third quarter. A layup by Alise Davis sparked a 15-3 run as Coastal Carolina cut its deficit to 44-42 at the end of the third quarter. Kaylin West netted eight of her team-high 13 points in the third period while the Chanticleers shot 55 percent (11-of-20) from the floor.
 
There were three ties and two lead changes in the fourth quarter. Another Davis layup gave Coastal Carolina its first lead at 52-50 with 5:39 remaining. ULM closed out the game on a 12-4 run and held the Chanticleers without a field goal over the last 5:38 (CCU missed its last nine field-goal attempts). A 3-pointer from Cortez from the top of the circle gave the Warhawks the lead for good at 55-53 with 3:04 left in the game. She scored nine consecutive points for ULM during a 3:55 stretch in the fourth quarter.
 
"Obviously, we got off to a tremendous start both offensively and defensively," ULM head basketball coach Jeff Dow said. "We were not quite as sharp in the second and third quarters, but we never totally gave away the lead. Down the stretch, there were a number of big possessions on both ends of the floor. We didn't give up a made basket the last 5:38 of the game; that's pretty good defense. We also made some clutch baskets and clutch free throws at the other end of the floor.
 
"It was a great team effort. We knew we were going to have to be outstanding defensively against Coastal Carolina, and for the most part, we were.
 
"Our players showed a lot of composure in the fourth quarter," Dow continued. "It's a 40-minute game and teams are going to go on runs. I'm not so sure a couple of weeks ago that we would have bounced back and found a way to win that game. Maybe we didn't play a complete game for 40 minutes, but we delivered when we really needed it, especially in the fourth quarter and particularly in the last five minutes."
 
Cortez made 11-of-19 shots from the field, including 6-of-12 3-pointers, and collected eight rebounds. Clark finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Harris contributed six points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals off the Warhawk bench.
 
"Gabby Cortez had a career-high 32 points, with 18 of those coming in the first quarter," Dow said. "It was good to see her get off to a quick start.
 
"Arsula Clark continues to make big plays and grab big rebounds. We got eight rebounds from basically a point guard, and that's pretty impressive. She also went 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. I'm really proud of her.
 
"I thought Jess Harris was big as well, coming off her sickness and being unable to play last weekend (at Arkansas State and Little Rock)," Dow continued. "She made some big hoops. Jess gives us a little extra athleticism and a little juice on the court."
 
Coastal Carolina (8-6, 2-1) also got 11 points from Naheria Hamilton and 10 from Jas Adams.
 
ULM completes its two-game Sun Belt homestand against Appalachian State on Saturday, Jan. 6, with tipoff set for 12 p.m.