MONROE, La. – The ULM women's basketball team is finally back on familiar ground, after nearly three weeks on the road, the Warhawks will host Sun Belt opponents Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State as a part of the Sun Belt's Suits and Sneakers and Coaches for Cancer campaign. Tip-off between ULM and CCU is slated for 6:30 p.m., Thursday night in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
Looking back, ULM lost its fourth straight game on Saturday, falling 77-49 at South Alabama, despite leading for more than 25 minutes of the game. A 10-0 run midway through the second quarter gave ULM a 26-15 lead, which South Alabama trimmed to 31-28 by halftime. The Warhawks extended the lead to open the third quarter, going on a 10-2 run to lead 40-30 with 7:51 left in the quarter. The Jaguars tied the game at the end of the third quarter at 44, before dominating the fourth quarter 33-5 to roll to the win.
Sophomore guard
Arsula Clark led the Warhawks in scoring with 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting. It marked the fourth consecutive game Clark has scored at least 16 points. Clark has scored at least 16 points in five of seven Sun Belt Conference games (14.4 points per game in conference play). She also pulled in seven rebounds, marking the sixth consecutive game Clark has recorded at least six rebounds (8.4 per game in conference play).
Despite offensive struggles, ULM continues to excel defensively. The Warhawks are second in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring defense (59.9 points per game) while ranking third in field goal percentage defense (38.2 percent) and in 3-point field goal percentage defense (28.2).
The Chanticleers are 2-6 away from home this season and 2-4 in true road games. CCU won at North Carolina Central 89-66 on Dec. 1 and won in overtime at UNCG 78-71 on Dec. 29.
Junior guard DJ Williams leads the Chanticleers in scoring at 17.1 points per game, ranking second in the Sun Belt Conference. Williams is shooting 46.9 percent from the field (10th in SBC), and is pulling in 6.6 rebounds per game, which is tied for second on the team with sophomore forward Janae Camp.
Thursday's game is just the third all-time meeting between the Warhawks and Chanticleers. Both meetings are Sun Belt Conference match-ups, starting when Coastal Carolina joined the conference prior to the 2016-17 season. The home team has won both meetings, including ULM's 62-56 win last season.
HawkTalk with ULM head women's basketball coach
Jeff Dow and head men's basketball coach
Keith Richard airs Mondays from 12-1 p.m. on SportsTalk 97.7, live from Geaux Wings (3600 Desiard Street, Suite 4, in Monroe). Warhawk women's basketball play-byplay announcer
Mike Hammett and men's basketball play-by-play announcer
Nick White serve as hosts for this live show that features insight from the two head coaches along with phone calls.
