ULM (1-8) at Texas Tech (9-0)
1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22 | United Supermarkets Arena (15,000) | Lubbock, Texas
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ULM Game Notes
LUBBOCK, Texas - For the second straight season, the ULM women's basketball team visits Lubbock, Texas, to face off with the Texas Tech Lady Raiders. ULM has dropped five straight games after Friday night's 63-51 loss at North Texas, while Texas Tech is off to a 9-0 start under second-year head coach Marlene Stollings.
PROJECTED STARTERS (based on previous game)
#1
Amber Thompson, 5-9, Senior, Guard (7.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.4 apg)
#4
Kierra Crockett, 6-0, Junior, Forward (6.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.7 spg)
#11
Whitney Goins, 6-0, Junior, Guard/Forward (4.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.1 apg)
#22
Lauren Fitch, 5-6, Senior, Guard (14.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.9 apg)
#24
Diamond Brooks, 6-2, Junior, Center (8.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 0.6 bpg)
STARTING FIVE
1. Despite making just three first half field goals at North Texas on Friday night, the Warhawks stayed in the game with the Mean Green thanks to the free throw line. ULM entered the game shooting just 61% from the charity stripe on the season, but knocked down 13-of-16 first half free throw attempts, and 17-of-22 attempts on the game (77.3%).
2. Senior guard
Lauren Fitch leads the Warhawks in 13 different stat categories on the season, and ranks in the top 10 in the Sun Belt in several categories, including second in minutes (36.4 per game), third in steals (2.3 per game), seventh in scoring (14.6 points per game) and ninth in assists (2.9 per game). Fitch also leads ULM in rebounding (47 overall, second per game at 5.2) and free throws made and attempts, among other categories. Fitch scored 12 points (8-of-10 free throws) with three rebounds, three assists and two steals at North Texas on Friday.
3. Senior guard
Amber Thompson is also appearing among SBC leaders in a handful of stat categories. Thompson is fourth in free throw percentage (82.8%, 24-of-29), tied for 14th in blocked shots (0.6 per game) and 17th in minutes played (28.9 per game). Thompson struggled from the field, but filled the stat sheet at North Texas on Friday, scoring seven points while tying for the team lead with seven rebounds and adding four assists and two steals.
4. For just the second time this season, the Warhawks out-rebounded their opponent in Friday's game at North Texas. ULM placed an emphasis on the boards, beating out the Mean Green on the glass 35-31. ULM also out-rebounded Northwestern State 48-43 on Nov. 18.
5. Sunday's game vs. Texas Tech marks the third straight season ULM has met a team from the Big 12 conference. ULM lost at Oklahoma State, 112-58, in 2017, and lost at Texas Tech, 86-42, last season. ULM is 0-7 against Big 12 teams over the last 10 seasons.
PREVIEWING TEXAS TECH
Sunday's game is just the fourth all-time meeting between ULM and Texas Tech, with the Lady Raiders leading the series 2-1 after last year's 86-42 win in Lubbock. ULM won the first-ever meeting between the schools, 62-60, at the Oakland Tribune Classic in Berkeley, Calif., on Dec. 20, 1988. Texas Tech won the second meeting, 94-54, in Lubbock, on Nov. 27, 2011.
For the second straight game, ULM will face a senior post player whom is averaging a double-double on the season. Brittany Brewer leads the Lady Raiders at 16.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Brewer, at 6-5, has blocked 46 shots in just nine games this season, which leads NCAA Division I by 1.4 blocks per game. She had a season-high eight blocks in the season-opener vs. Sam Houston State. Brewer also ranks 10th nationally in rebounding. She has scored in double figures in all nine games, and has posted six double-doubles on the season. Brewer had 12 points and nine rebounds in Friday's win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Freshman guard Alexis Tucker is nearly averaging a double-double as well. Tucker is second in scoring and rebounding for the Lady Raiders at 16.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Tucker has a pair of double-doubles on the season, and has topped 20 points three times, including a 20-point, six-rebound performance on Friday vs. UAPB.
Texas Tech has three other players averaging double figures on the season. Sophomore guard Chrislyn Carr is averaging 12.3 points and 5.0 assists per game. Carr has a 10-point, 12-assist double-double vs. Northwestern State. Junior guard Sydney Goodson, an Arizona State transfer, is averaging 10.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Junior guard Jo'Nah Johnson is posting 10.1 points and 4.8 assists per game.
