The ULM women's basketball team opens a three-game homestand Saturday at 2 p.m. against the Ragin' Cajuns. Admission to Saturday's game is free, as it is the team's Play4Kay game.
Play4Kay helps in the effort to raise money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The fund fulfills the vision of the late Kay Yow, a long-time women's basketball coach at North Carolina State, to support advanced research, extend the quality of life for those battling cancer and provide hope. Donations will be accepted throughout the game.
The Warhawks bring momentum into their Play4Kay game, after rallying from an eight-point third quarter deficit to roll past Georgia Southern, 80-62, Saturday in Statesboro. The win snapped a seven-game losing streak for ULM, and marked the first road Sun Belt Conference win for the Warhawks since Feb. 25, 2016 at South Alabama, a streak of 25 consecutive conference road losses.
ULM had a balanced effort in Saturday's win over Georgia Southern. Junior guard Lauren Fitch led the Warhawks with 15 points (7-of-8 FTs), sophomore guard/forward Whitney Goins added 14 points, junior guard Amber Thompson tallied 12 points and sophomore guard Arsula Clark had her eighth consecutive double-figure game with 10 points. A trio of posts finished just outside of double-figures. Sophomore center Diamond Brooks scored nine points, while freshman center Sheniqua Coatney chipped in eight points and freshman forward Jamie Means added seven points.
The Warhawks entered the game at Georgia Southern averaging just 50.5 points per game in Sun Belt Conference play, and had not scored more than 58 points in an SBC game. ULM scored 80 points, upping their average to 53.2 points per game, while shooting a season-high 51.0 percent from the field.
Two career-highs in scoring were set Saturday. Whitney Goins upped her career-high to 14 points, while Sheniqua Coatney set a career-best with eight points.
Saturday's game is the 57th all-time meeting between the Warhawks and Ragin' Cajuns. Overall, ULM has dominated the series between the two schools 40-16, but the Ragin' Cajuns have won the last nine meetings, including a season sweep in each of the last three seasons and a win in January, 52-45, in Lafayette.
The Ragin' Cajuns come in to Saturday's game at 6-17 on the season and 4-8 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Cajuns have lost three straight games after a win over Appalachian State on Jan. 31. The Cajuns are 5-6 at home this season, but 1-10 in true road games.
Sophomore center Ty'Reona Doucet paces the Cajuns in scoring and rebounding. Doucet is averaging 13.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Doucet ranks third in the SBC in rebounds per game.
Freshman guard Brandi Williams is second on the team in scoring at 13.0 points per game. Williams is coming off a big weekend in Georgia, matching a career-high with 25 points at Georgia Southern before posting 24 points on Saturday at Georgia State. Williams shot 65.4 percent from the field (17-of-26) on the road trip.
Links to live video, audio and stats are available at ULMWarhawks.com, under the women's basketball schedule page.
