MONROE, La. - The ULM Warhawks wrap up the non-conference portion of the schedule at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon against Mississippi Valley State. Both the Warhawks and Devilettes enter the game at 1-9 on the season. ULM is coming off an 83-38 loss at Texas Tech on Dec. 22, while MVSU lost 91-54 at Memphis on Dec. 20.
STARTING FIVE
1. ULM struggled to a season-low 38 points and 19.2% shooting in Sunday's loss at Texas Tech. However, ULM had its best 3-point shooting percentage game of the season, hitting 40% of their shots from downtown. ULM made four 3-pointers on the day, with two by senior guard
Amber Thompson and one each from junior guard/forward
Whitney Goins and freshman guard
Gara Beth Self.
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 (35.6 per game), third in steals (2.3 per game) and seventh in scoring (13.8 points per game). Fitch also leads ULM in rebounding (52 overall, 5.2 per game) and free throws made and attempts, among other categories. Fitch scored seven points and pulled in five rebounds in Sunday's loss at Texas Tech, and left the game after suffering an injury late in the third quarter.
3. Senior guard
Amber Thompson is also appearing among SBC leaders in a couple of stat categories. Thompson is fourth in free throw percentage (82.8%, 24-of-29) and 20th in minutes played (29.1 per game). Thompson tallied eight points, five rebounds and an assist Sunday at Texas Tech.
4. ULM pulled in 44 rebounds on Sunday, their second highest total this season. The Warhawks led the rebounding battle for much of the game against Texas Tech before the Lady Raiders made a push on the glass late in the game. The Warhawks had 18 offensive rebounds, led by four from sophomore center
Sheniqua Coatney.
5. Sunday's game is the first this season against a team from the Southwestern Athletic Conference. ULM is 3-6 against teams from the SWAC over the past 10 seasons, including last year's 72-65 win over Mississippi Valley State in Monroe.
PREVIEWING MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE
Sunday's game is the second all-time meeting between ULM and Mississippi Valley State, with the Warhawks winning 72-65 last year in Monroe.
Junior guard Ayonna Cotten leads the Devilettes with 12.8 points per game. She also leads MVSU with 2.8 assists per game. Cotten scored in double figures in each of the first seven games of the season, including a pair of 20-plus point efforts, scoring 24 points vs. Austin Peay and 22 points vs. Omaha. Cotten has connected on 24 3-pointers on the season, including five treys vs. Austin Peay and a 4-for-6 performance at Southern Miss.
Junior guard Shelli Thigpen is second on the team in scoring at 10.5 points per game. Thigpen is second on the team in rebounding at 4.8 boards per game. Thigpen scored in double figures in five consecutive games from Nov. 9 to Nov. 30, including a season-high 19 points vs. Omaha. Thigpen tallied a season-high 11 rebounds vs. Florida A&M.
Junior guard/forward Diamond Wraggs is just shy of double figure scoring on the season, sitting at 9.7 points per game. Wraggs leads the Devilettes with 6.2 rebounds per game. Wraggs has a pair of double doubles on the year, putting up 19 points and 11 rebounds vs. Murray State and 14 points and 11 rebounds vs. Florida A&M.
