MONROE, La. – Louisiana Tech outscored ULM 20-2 over an eight-minute stretch in the second half to rally and pull away for a 64-48 win Thursday night at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
 
"I was proud of our effort," ULM head coach Brooks Donald Williams said. "We are getting better and that certainly showed tonight against a good team."
 
ULM (2-7 overall) had rallied from a 12-point deficit to take the lead on a 3-pointer from true freshman Bre Sutton with 3:50 to play in the third quarter, and stretched the lead to three, 41-38 on free throws by sophomore Gara Beth Self, with 2:06 left in the frame. LA Tech (5-2) scored the final six points of the quarter to regain the lead, 44-41, after three quarters.
 
Second-year freshman Kyren Whittington split two defenders to hit a layup with 8:49 remaining in the game to bring the Warhawks within three again, 46-43. However, the Lady Techsters responded with a 12-0 run to push the lead to 15 at 58-43 and were never threatened again.
 
A 7-0 run midway through the first quarter put ULM on top. Self knocked down a 3-pointer for the 8-6 lead, and a steal and lay-in by fifth-year senior Kierra Crockett put the Warhawks up 10-6. The two sides battled through the remainder of the quarter, but LA Tech scored seven of the final eight points of the quarter to lead 20-16 after one.
 
LA Tech stretched the lead to 12 on a 3-pointer by Salma Bates with 1:34 to go before halftime. However, treys from ULM sophomore Linda van Schaik and Sutton closed the Warhawks within six at halftime, 34-28.
 
LA Tech opened the second half with a jumper from Anna Larr Roberson to put the Lady Techsters up 36-28. ULM went on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 36 on free throws by Self with 5:13 left in the quarter. Roberson answered with a putback to give LA Tech the lead once more, leading to Sutton's shot from deep for the lead.
 
Whittington led ULM with 16 points. Sutton added a career-high 11 points with four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Roberson posted a double-double for the second-consecutive season against ULM, going for a season-high 20 points and matched a career-high with 14 rebounds while hitting 10-of-11 free throw attempts.
 
Redshirt fifth-year junior Kierra Brimzy made her 2021-22 season debut, playing nine minutes and grabbing one rebound with one steal. She missed the first eight games of the season with a knee injury.
 
"It was nice to have Kierra Brimzy back on the floor, even if it was limited," Williams said. "It will take her some time to get back in the flow of the game but she gives us a different confidence just having her back in practice and suited up for games. Her experience and her ability to score is so valuable. I can't say it enough how glad we are to have her back. The timing is perfect to get her ready for Sun Belt Conference play in the next several weeks."
 
ULM shot just 29.5% from the field (18-of-61), but stayed in the game with a 5-of-12 performance (41.7%) from 3-point range. LA Tech shot 35.7% from the floor (20-of-56), but took advantage of the free-throw line, hitting 21-of-24 attempts (87.5%) to just 7-for-10 (70.0%) for ULM.
 
The Lady Techsters also outrebounded ULM, 46-34.
 
The Warhawks continue an eight-game homestand at 4:30 p.m. Saturday against Alcorn State. Links to live video, audio and stats are available on the women's basketball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.