MONROE, La. – The Ragin' Cajuns closed the game on an 8-2 run and escaped Fant-Ewing Coliseum with a 64-59 win over ULM Saturday afternoon.
ULM was paced by Kierra Brimzy's 23 points, marking her fourth 20-plus point effort this season. The Warhawks also had a double-double from Morgan Hill, the first of her career, as she had career highs with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Brandi Williams had a career-day for the Ragin' Cajuns with a career-high 32 points, going 5-of-7 from 3-point range.
"We are all disappointed in the outcome but what a game and what a fight from our group," ULM head coach Brooks Donald Williams said. "W were in situations tonight that we've not been in all season long."
The game featured four ties and seven lead changes, with three ties and six lead changes coming in the second half.
The Ragin' Cajuns controlled most of the first half. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Alexandria Goodly and Brandi Williams put the Cajuns up 17-7 with 3:40 left in the first quarter. ULM responded as Gracen Williams finished a traditional 3-point play and Kierra Crockett knocked down a floater in the lane to pull within five at 17-12. The Cajuns scored the final three points of the quarter to lead 20-12 after the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, ULM was making shots, but the Cajuns were answering. Brimzy canned a trey to cut the gap to five at 20-15. However, the Cajuns responded with the next six points to go back up by double digits, 26-15. Linda Van Schaik and Brimzy hit back-to-back 3-pointers, but Brandi Williams answered for the Cajuns with two more treys of her own to keep the lead at 11, 32-21.
The Cajuns eventually grabbed a 13-point lead at 36-23 on a jumper by Tamera Johnson with 3:35 left in the half. The Warhawks held the Cajuns off the board for the remainder of the half, going on a 10-0 run, and started a stretch of 13:26 where ULM dominated the game.
Van Schaik started ULM's climb back, knocking down her second 3-pointer of the quarter. Hill finished a layup and Brimzy converted a 3-point play before Hill hit a pair of free throws to close the half with ULM trailing 36-33.
"Morgan Hill continues to make strides," Brooks Williams said. "She gets better by the day."
The Warhawks owned the third quarter. After trading points early in the quarter, ULM hit a strong spurt again. Hill's hook shot in the lane put the Warhawks up for the first time since 2-0 at 41-40 with 3:19 left in the third quarter. Self added to the lead with a fast break layup off a rebound and save by Van Schaik. Brimzy drained a trey and Goins hit a jumper in the lane to cap ULM's 11-0 run to lead 48-40.
On the ensuing possession, Brandi Williams hit a jumper from the right baseline to cut ULM's lead to six and signal an end to the Ragin' Cajun drought. Between Johnson's jumper at the 3:35 mark of the second quarter and Williams' jumper at the end of the third quarter, ULM outscored the Cajuns 25-4. The Warhawks led 48-42 going to the fourth quarter.
Brandi Williams' jumper sparked the Cajuns. Skyler Goodwin scored the first six points of the quarter for the Ragin' Cajuns to cut the gap to 50-48. Brandi Williams' 3-point play with 6:24 left gave the Cajuns a 51-50 advantage. Williams stretched the lead to four moments later with her fifth 3-pointer of the afternoon, putting the Cajuns up 54-50.
Brimzy answered on the next possession with a 3-pointer to get back within one. After Makayia Hallmon missed a trey, Gracen Williams secured the rebound for ULM and found Hill behind the Cajun defense for the layup to give the Warhawks the edge again, 55-54, with 3:52 to go.
Brandi Williams responded with two free throws to put the Cajuns back up, but Hill had another answer, grabbing her own offensive rebound and knocking down the put-back in the lane for the 57-56 lead with 3:00 remaining.
After Williams hit a pair of free throws to give the Ragin' Cajuns the lead for good with 1:54 left, Hallmon followed with a 3-point play to push the advantage to 61-57 with 1:05 remaining. Brimzy's jumper at the other end cut the gap to two with 30 seconds left. Goodwin hit just one-of-two free throws to leave the door open for ULM in a 3-point game with 28 seconds to go. However, Brimzy's jumper in the paint bounced off and the Cajuns secured the rebound and put the game away at the free throw line to win 64-59.
"I think our team is getting better by the day," Brooks Williams said. "We feel it and our kids are getting more confident on both ends of the floor. Despite their ailments, they are working differently right now. We are very proud of the growth. This was one of the most complete games we've put together with this young bunch. I can't wait to take the floor with them this week and get back to work."
The Warhawks are scheduled to travel to Arkansas State for a 6 p.m. make-up game against the Red Wolves on Monday. Links to live video, audio and stats are available on the women's basketball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
