Houston - A bad second quarter was just enough to send the ULM women's basketball team to a loss on Wednesday afternoon, falling to Houston Baptist 68-60 at Sharp Gym.
The Warhawks (5-5) outscored the Huskies (5-5) in the first, third and fourth quarters, but HBU dominated the second quarter 24-8 to pick up the win.
"Obviously a disappointing way to head into the break," said head coach Jeff Dow. "For about 15 minutes of the game, the entire second quarter and a significant portion of the third, we had entirely too many breakdowns defensively. We've been able to be competitive in most every game we've played this season because of our defense alone."
Arsula Clark and Lauren Fitch combined for the first six points of the game, before HBU went on a 10-2 run to take a 10-8 lead. ULM scored the final four points of the quarter on free throws by Clark and a jumper by Fitch to regain a 12-10 lead after a quarter.
HBU opened the second quarter with a 6-0 spurt, before the teams played even for the middle portion of the quarter. ULM pulled within six at 26-20 on free throws by Clark with 3:01 left in the half, before the Huskies scored the final eight points of the half to lead 34-20 at halftime.
"As we discussed in the locker room after the game, somehow in spite of our struggles offensively, we have to find a way to only be down five or six points at halftime, not 14," Dow said.
ULM trailed by as much as 17 in the third quarter on two separate occasions, but managed to start a rally late in the frame. Tiara Malone hit a three-pointer to spark a 10-3 spurt by ULM, cutting the deficit to 10 at 49-39 with 1:05 to play in the third quarter. HBU led 51-39 after three quarters.
ULM made a push for the lead in the fourth quarter. Whitney Goins knocked down a three-pointer to open a 13-4 run for the Warhawks. Fitch knocked down back-to-back jumpers before Amber Thompson sunk two free throws to bring ULM back within four at 56-52. After a basket by Vernokia Kirienko put HBU back up by six, Fitch hit a layup and a jumper to cut the deficit to two at 58-56 with 2:38 remaining.
Kirienko answered on the next possession by HBU, but an offensive rebound and layup by Jamie Means brought the Warhawks back within two again at 60-58 with 1:55 to go. However, Kirienko answered and the Warhawks did not, as HBU went on a 6-0 run to put the game away.
"I give our players tremendous credit for not quitting and continuing to compete," Dow said. "Arsula Clark and Lauren Fitch were phenomenal in almost single-handedly bringing us back. We expended a great deal of energy and played very hard to cut it to two with just over a minute to play in regulation. But unfortunately, in the next possession we had a breakdown in communication late in the shot clock defensively and gave up a layup with 45 seconds left. If we get a stop there we have the ball down two with a chance to tie or take the lead."
Clark had the first double double of the season for ULM and the third of her career, scoring a game-high 22 points while pulling in 12 rebounds. Fitch scored a season-high 20 points and tracked down eight rebounds. No other Warhawk scored more than five points.
ULM struggled to a second consecutive season-low from the field, shooting 29.3 percent (22-of-75) and 20.0 percent (3-of-15) from three-point range. Meanwhile, HBU shot 47.3 percent (26-of-55). Both teams finished 13-of-20 (65 percent) at the free throw line. HBU out-rebounded ULM 48-42.
ULM has now lost three straight games following a five-game winning streak.
"What's even more frustrating in these past three losses is that inside of a minute, the biggest deficit we've had is four points," Dow said. "In each of those games, if we're better on one or two possessions, we would have put ourselves in position to be 8-2 right now. But in the words of Bill Parcells, you are what your record says you are, which makes us a .500 team at this point. Hopefully we come back from the break re-energized with a mindset of wanting to improve in a few specific areas.
The Warhawks now take time off for the holidays before returning to Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Sun., Dec. 30, to face-off with Arkansas Monticello in the final non-conference game of the season. Ticket information, as well as links to live video and stat feeds are available at ULMWarhawks.com.
