RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech used a 14-0 run to open the fourth quarter to pull away from the ULM women's basketball team for a 63-45 win Thursday night at the Thomas Assembly Center.
ULM kept Louisiana Tech within striking distance through the first three quarters but struggled to score in the first half of the final frame.
"We saw several bright spots tonight on both ends of the floor," ULM head coach Brooks Donald Williams said. "We grew leaps and bounds from Tuesday night as a team. We played with an urgency and had numerous small victories within the game tonight."
Louisiana Tech opened the game with a quick basket and used its full-court pressure to force a pair of turnovers for two more buckets and a 6-0 lead 47 seconds into the game.
ULM answered back. Sophomore Linda van Schaik connected on a 3-pointer, and junior Kierra Brimzy and sophomore Gara Beth Self followed in short order as ULM claimed a 9-8 lead with 6:28 left in the first quarter.
After Tech tied the game at 9, ULM picked up back-to-back baskets from Brimzy and a layup from van Schaik to claim a 15-9 lead with 3:30 left in the quarter.
LA Tech rallied back, scoring the final eight points of the quarter to grab a 17-15 lead after a quarter on a basket by Robyn Lee.
In the second quarter, both sides struggled offensively. LA Tech slowly built an eight-point lead on a jumper by Keiunna Walker with 3:42 to go before halftime. ULM answered right back with a layup by senior Kierra Crockett but Tech scored three-straight points by Anna Larr Roberson to push the lead out to nine at 30-21. Crockett scored off an offensive rebound with 39 seconds left before the break to cut the deficit to 30-23 at halftime.
In the third quarter, ULM pulled within four twice. Brimzy knocked down a trey on the opening possession and, after a LA Tech bucket, Self hit a jumper in the lane to bring the Warhawks within four at 32-28. Tech quickly pushed the lead back to nine at 37-28 on a 3-pointer by Raizel Guinto. ULM closed within seven twice, the last time at 39-32 on a jumper in the lane by Brimzy. LA Tech scored five straight points to take the lead to 12 at 46-34 but Brimzy knocked down another jumper in the middle of the lane to cut the gap to 10 after three quarters, 46-36.
LA Tech proceeded to score the first 14 points of the fourth quarter to pull away. ULM ended the drought on free throws by freshman Kyren Whittington with 3:16 left. Whittington scored nine of her 13 points in the fourth quarter
Brimzy led ULM with 16 points. Roberson paced LA Tech with a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double.
ULM shot 35.2% from the floor (19-of-54), 29.4% (5-of 17) from 3-point range and made two of its three free throw attempts. LA Tech shot 36.5% from the field (23-of-63), 9.1% (2-of-22) from 3-point land and 68.2% (15-of-22) from the foul line.
ULM committed 25 turnovers in the game to 10 for LA Tech.
"We will continue to work on limiting our turnovers and keeping people off the free throw line, which will come with time and experience for some of our young ones," Williams said. "Both turnovers and fouls came from fatigue at times and that will get cleaned up as time goes on. We are proud of our growth and looking forward to our next opportunity on Monday at Fant."
The Warhawks return home to close the non-conference schedule at 6 p.m. Monday vs. McNeese State. For tickets, call 318-342-HAWK or visit ULMWarhawks.com. Links to live video, audio and stats are available on the women's basketball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
