MONROE, La. – Northwestern State's 11 3-pointers trumped five ULM scorers in double figures as the Lady Demons held off a Warhawk rally, 76-72, Wednesday night at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
NSU (6-3 overall) shot a blazing 65% (11-of-17) from 3-point range, including 7-of-11 in the first half as the Lady Demons built as much as a 14-point lead. The Warhawks rallied in the second half to pull within one point twice and one possession eight times but could never tie or take the lead.
ULM had five players score in double figures for the first time since last season's 96-48 win over Louisiana Christian on Dec. 6, 2020, and for just the 19th time in program history. However, it wasn't enough to overcome NSU's scorching perimeter shooting. True freshmen
Katlyn Manuel,
Aasia Sam and
Bre Sutton each scored a career-high 15 points to lead the Warhawks, while fifth-year senior
Kierra Crockett added a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore
Gara Beth Self had 10 points. Manuel just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Monette Bolden led NSU with a career-high 21 points and five steals.
The two sides traded blows early, with ULM taking a brief 9-7 lead on back-to-back baskets inside by Manuel, who scored eight of her 15 points in the first quarter. However, a 3-pointer by Bolden swung the lead back to NSU for good at 10-9. The Lady Demons closed the quarter on a 7-0 run and led 22-13.
The lead ballooned to 14 at 36-22 off a 3-pointer by Jiselle Woodson with 4:57 remaining in the half. ULM chipped away at the lead, getting back within nine at halftime, 42-33.
The Warhawks started hot in the second half. Sam canned a pair of 3-pointers and Manuel and Crockett went to work inside to cut the deficit to one on Sam's third trey, 45-44. However, every time ULM made a push, NSU had an answer. The Lady Demons used a 6-0 spurt to rebuild a 51-44 lead. Baskets by Sam and Manuel pulled ULM within three, but NSU answered with a triple by Woodson and a fastbreak layup by Karmelah Dean to go up eight, 58-50. The Warhawks answered with a 7-0 run, capped on free throws by Crockett, to get within one again at 58-57. However, NSU scored the last five points of the frame to lead 63-47 to the fourth.
In the final quarter, ULM kept making pushes, but the Lady Demons continuously had answers. Self's third 3-pointer brought ULM within three at 65-62. After NSU answered with free throws by Woodson, Crockett's lay in brought the Warhawks within three again. NSU responded once more, but a free throw and by Sam and a steal by Sutton and layup by Sam pulled ULM within two, 69-67. After Bolden connected on the 11th trey of the night for NSU, ULM had another push, using a floater by Sutton and a free throw by Self to get within two at 72-70 with 1:02 to play.
NSU turned to Jordan Todd inside for a layup with 47 seconds left to rebuild a 74-70 advantage. ULM answered when Sutton collected an offensive rebound and hit the fall-away putback from the left block to get within two at 74-72 with 36 seconds to play. However, Woodson hit the game-sealing jumper from the right wing with six seconds left to lift NSU to the 76-72 win.
ULM continues non-conference play at noon on Saturday against McNeese. Links to live video, audio, stats and tickets are available at ULMWarhawks.com.
