ATLANTA - The ULM Warhawks wrap up their visit to Georgia on Saturday morning when they visit Georgia State in Atlanta. The Warhawks suffered through three separate scoring droughts in a 64-47 loss Thursday night at Georgia Southern to drop their Sun Belt Conference opener. Georgia State fell at home to the Ragin' Cajuns Thursday night, 75-65.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP (based on previous game)
#1
Amber Thompson, G, 5-9, Sr.: 9.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.4 apg
#2
Gara Beth Self, G, 5-8, Fr.: 5.2 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 1.7 apg
#4
Kierra Crockett, F, 6-0, Jr.: 6.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg
#11
Whitney Goins, G/F, 6-0, Jr.: 5.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg
#24
Diamond Brooks, C, 6-2, Jr.: 8.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg
STARTING FIVE
1. While playing well in the early portions of each quarter Thursday night at Georgia Southern, the Warhawks struggled to close out the final three quarters. ULM led the Eagles 21-13 with 5:51 to play in the second quarter before going scoreless over the next 4:55 and picking up one more field goal in the first half. In the third quarter, ULM cut the deficit to 31-29 with 7:20 left in the quarter before the Warhawks did not make a field goal for the rest of the period. Finally, in the fourth quarter, the Warhawks had cut a 12-point deficit to four at 48-44 with 7:13 to play in the game before making just one more field goal for the rest of the game, and going scoreless over the final 5:06.
2. With senior point guard and leading scorer
Lauren Fitch sidelined with an injury, fellow senior guard
Amber Thompson stepped up for ULM. Thompson tallied a career-high 21 points to go along with a season-high eight rebounds on Sunday vs. Mississippi Valley. Thompson also matched a season-high with four assists and set a new season-high with three steals. On Thursday night, Thompson led the Warhawks with a game-high 18 points, including three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
3. Junior center
Diamond Brooks is hitting her stride inside. Brooks has scored in double figures in three of the last four games. Brooks tallied 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting Thursday night at Georgia Southern. She recorded a career-high 14 points in Sunday's win over MVSU. Brooks picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter against the Devilettes, but responded by scoring 12 of her 14 points in the second half. Brooks also scored 12 points at North Texas on Dec. 20.
4. The Warhawk starting five did all of the team's scoring at Georgia Southern. Thompson accounted for 18 points, Brooks had 12,
Whitney Goins added 10,
Gara Beth Self picked up 5 and
Kierra Crockett had 2. Four Warhawks came off the bench, playing a combined 43 minutes but scoring zero points.
5. The Warhawks are opening Sun Belt Conference play on the road for the fourth consecutive season. ULM has opened Sun Belt play 0-2 in each of the last five seasons. The last time ULM won at least one of its first two conference games was the 2013-14 season, when the Warhawks won 84-67 at UT Arlington on Jan. 8, 2014, the second SBC game of that season.
PREVIEWING GEORGIA STATE
Saturday's game is the 12th all-time meeting between ULM and Georgia State, with the Panthers leading the series 9-2. Georgia State swept last year's meetings, winning 56-41 in Monroe on Jan. 12, and taking a 68-46 win in Atlanta on Feb. 7.
Sophomore guard/forward Taylor Hosendove paces the Panthers, averaging a double double per game at 12.0 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Hosendove, a transfer from Clemson, leads the Panthers in both categories, and is second on the team in assists with 16. Hosendove has scored in double figures in eight of her 10 games, including the last two. She tallied four consecutive double doubles from Nov. 29 through Dec. 7, and has five double doubles on the season. Hosendove had 21 points and 19 rebounds at UTEP on Nov. 30, and 20 points and 18 rebounds at Furman on Dec. 5.
Freshman guard Taylor Henderson is second on the team in scoring at 10.9 points per game. Henderson leads the team with 17 assists and has notched 12 steals on the season. Henderson has reached double figure scoring six times in 12 games, including a 31 point effort vs. FIU on Nov. 11.
Graduate forward Allison Johnson returns from last season. Johnson is third on the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 10.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Johnson sat out until Dec. 5 at Furman, and has scored in double figures in four of six games since her return, including each of the last three games. Johnson scored 11 points while pulling down a season-high seven rebounds vs. the Ragin' Cajuns on Thursday.
Junior guard Jada Lewis, a former Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, returns for the Panthers. Lewis is fourth on the team in scoring at 9.3 points per game. She leads the team in steals with 16 and is tied for second in assists with 16. Lewis has scored in double figures in three straight games.
Senior center Shaquanda Miller-McCray is a defensive force. Miller-McCray averages 4.3 points per game, but leads the team with 29 blocks and is second on the team with 15 steals and 7.9 rebounds per game. Miller-McCray posted 20 rebounds vs. FIU on Nov. 11.
