SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State used a 13-0 run spanning the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth quarter to pull away and defeat ULM, 64-50, Saturday afternoon at Strahan Arena.
"We fought back today," ULM head coach Brooks Donald Williams said. "It was a much better effort as a whole team than game one. We were a different team on the boards, winning the rebounding battle and holding them to six offensive rebounds."
The Warhawks opened the game with a renewed effort and energy. Kierra Brimzy finished a traditional 3-point play and Diamond Brooks knocked down a layup off a pass from Whitney Goins for the early 5-0 advantage. After Lauryn Thompson drained a 3-pointer for Texas State, Brimzy and Morgan Hill added to the ULM lead, going up 9-3. The Bobcats closed within four, but Gracen Williams' scoop shot from the right block put ULM back up seven after a quarter, 13-6.
Texas State used an 11-0 run in the second quarter to surge in front. Da'Nasia Hood connected on a 3-pointer to put the Bobcats on top, while Thompson and Kennedy Taylor hit free throws to extend the Texas State lead to 23-18. Diamond Brooks' layup with 43 seconds left brought the Warhawks within three at halftime, 23-20.
The Bobcats added to the lead to open the second half. Thompson and Hood pushed the Texas State lead to 27-20. ULM answered back with a 7-0 run, using a putback from Crockett, a 3-pointer by Goins and a jumper by Brimzy to tie the game at 27 with 6:49 left in the quarter, forcing a Bobcat timeout.
Texas State regained the lead on back-to-back buckets by Thompson, but a 3-pointer by Goins from the right corner brought ULM within one at 33-32 with 3:42 left in the quarter. ULM would not score for the rest of the frame, as Texas State rattled off seven straight points for a 40-32 lead after three quarters.
The Bobcats added the first six points of the fourth quarter, all from Hood, as the lead swelled to 14 at 46-32. ULM closed within 11 on a layup by Crockett with 7:31 remaining, but Texas State did not allow the Warhawks any closer as they picked up the 64-50 win.
Brimzy led ULM with 24 points.
"Kierra Brimzy had a different explosion today, offensively," Williams said. "She had a toughness and a will to score and execute. If she trains that way daily, she will continue to have success here on the offensive end."
The Warhawks shuffled the starting lineup with Gara Beth Self and Whitney Goins rejoining the group today. Self played 23 minutes while Goins played 30 minutes and finished with six points, five rebounds and three assists.
"We are a different team when GB is out there," Williams said. "It was good to see her be able to compete in limited action."
Thompson led Texas State with a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Hood just missed a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds. Taylor added seven points, three rebounds and 12 assists.
ULM outrebounded Texas State 37-30 and limited the Bobcats to six offensive rebounds a day after getting outrebounded 47-28 and giving up 24 offensive boards.
The Warhawks shot 43% from the field (22-of-51) and 21% from 3-point range (3-of-14) while hitting just 3-of-6 free throws. Texas State shot 39% from the floor (21-of-54) and 29% from 3-point range (4-of-14) while shooting 82% from the free throw line (18-of-22). ULM committed 24 turnovers to 10 for Texas State.
ULM is back on the road next weekend at Little Rock, opening the series at 2 p.m. Friday at the Jack Stephens Center. Links to live video, audio and stats are available at ULMWarhawks.com.
