ULM Warhawks

MONROE, La. - ULM plays in its first Sun Belt Conference Championship since the 2017-18 season at 11 a.m. Friday when the Warhawks meet Appalachian State at the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Florida. It marks the first meeting this season between ULM and App State after the Sun Belt Conference played only division foes for the 2020-21 season.

The Warhawks dropped to 3-19 overall and finished Sun Belt play 1-15 after dropping a pair of games to Texas State Friday and Saturday, 85-62 and 68-56. App State finished in third place in the East Division by percentage points to Georgia State, which finished second and received a first round bye. The Mountaineers are 13-11 overall and finished Sun Belt play 10-8 after sweeping Georgia Southern, 77-66 and 81-78. The Mountaineers have won three straight games.

The game will be televised by ESPN+ with Matt Stewart (play-by-play) and Tabitha Turner (analyst) on the call. The game will air on the Warhawk Radio Network from Learfield IMG College on 1680 AM KRJO and 997thelegend.com with Nick White on the call.

Sophomore guard Gara Beth Self was ULM's top player in Friday's game against the Bobcats. Self scored a season-high 16 points while connecting on 4-of-6 3-point attempts. She played in over 30 minutes in both contests against Texas State, marking the first time this season she has played in over 30 minutes in back-to-back contests after battling injuries since fall camp. She added nine points on 2-of-3 3-point shooting in Saturday's contest.

Junior guard Kierra Brimzy has been ULM's offensive catalyst all season. Brimzy closed the regular season with a team-high 15 points against Texas State on Saturday and is averaging a team-best 13.3 points per game. What set her apart over the Texas State series was her distribution. Brimzy issued 11 total assists in the series, including a season-high seven on Saturday.

ULM is seeking its first win at the Sun Belt Championship since 2012-13. That season, ULM opened with a win over Florida Atlantic, 70-63, before dropping a quarterfinal game to Middle Tennessee, 59-56. The Warhawks have dropped their last three games at the Sun Belt Championship, including in 2017-18, when they lost to South Alabama in the first round, 80-54, in New Orleans.

Appalachian State has won three straight games and five of its last six contests entering the Sun Belt Championship after sweeping Georgia Southern on Friday and Saturday, 77-66 and 81-78.

The Mountaineers are led by guard Pre Stanley, who is averaging 15.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Stanley also leads App with 2.5 assists per game. Stanley is shooting 47% from the field and has been particularly efficient from the 3-point line, hitting 52% of her shots from deep at 17-of-33.

Lainey Gosnell has been a key contributor for the Mountaineers, ranking second on the team in scoring at 12.5 points per game but leading the team on the glass at 7.3 rebounds per game. She can also step out and shoot the 3-pointer, hitting 32% from beyond the arc (38-of-120).

Forward Michaela Porter and guard Brooke Bigott also stand out for App. Porter is third on the team at 8.6 points per game and is second in rebounding with 7.3 boards per contest. Bigott is averaging 7.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 35% from the 3-point line (46-of-130). 

ULM AT THE SUN BELT CHAMPIONSHIP        
Friday's game marks ULM's 11th appearance in the Sun Belt Women's Basketball Championship and the program's first appearance since 2017-18. The Warhawks are 3-10 all-time in the championship since joining the Sun Belt prior to the 2006-07 season. ULM has never advanced past the quarterfinals of the championship. The Warhawks picked up first round wins over Western Kentucky (2009, 71-62), Troy (2011, 60-51) and Florida Atlantic (2013, 70-63). ULM has never previously met Appalachian State at the Sun Belt Championship.

SELF IMPROVEMENT    
Sophomore Gara Beth Self saw her numbers drastically improve after taking over the starting point guard position for the remainder of the 2019-20 season in the final non-conference game of the year vs. Mississippi Valley State. Self was handed the reigns after senior point guard Lauren Fitch suffered a season-ending injury at Texas Tech. Self flourished inside of Sun Belt Conference play, averaging 12.8 points and 2.5 assists over 34.5 minutes per game. She scored in double figures in 12 of 18 conference games, including an eight-game streak from Jan. 8 to Feb. 5. Self scored a career-high 28 points on the strength of 5-of-11 3-point shooting and added two rebounds, three assists and five steals at then-Sun Belt leading Coastal Carolina on Feb. 27. Self was named Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and Honorable Mention All-Louisiana by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Over the last three games, Self has started to regain the appearance of last year's Freshman of the Year performance. After battling injuries all season, Self broke through for 12 points in ULM's win over Little Rock on Feb. 22. She followed it with a season-high 16 points on 4-of-6 3-point shooting vs. Texas State on Friday before added nine points on 2-of-3 3-point shooting on Saturday. Self has made nine of her 17 3-point field goals for the season in the last three contests. She has also played over 30 minutes in consecutive contests for the first time this season.

Self broke into double figures for the first time in 2020-21 at Northwestern State, scoring 12 points, seven in the fourth quarter, and handing out five assists against the Lady Demons. She followed it up with 14 points and four assists vs. Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 15. Self tallied 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting with three steals, two assists and one rebound in 25 minutes before suffering an apparent injury late in the third quarter Jan. 15 vs. Arkansas State. She returned to the lineup at Texas State, playing nine minutes on Jan. 22 and earning the start on Jan. 23, playing 23 minutes. Self remained in the starting lineup at Little Rock, scoring two points with a rebound and an assist in 26 minutes on Jan. 29 before adding nine points with four rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes on Jan. 30. She reached double figures for the fourth time on the season with 10 points and a season-high five assists on Feb. 5 vs. UT Arlington.

CROCKETT CONTINUES TO CONTROL THE BOARDS        
Senior Kierra Crockett continues to be one of the top rebounders in the Sun Belt Conference and NCAA Division I. Crockett is averaging 8.0 rebounds per game, which ranks eighth in the Sun Belt and 130th in the nation. She ranks eighth in the SBC in offensive rebounds (2.5 pg.) and ninth in defensive rebounds (5.5 pg.). She has tracked down at least seven rebounds in 16 of 22 games this season. She has topped 10 rebounds in a game six times this season and 13 times in her ULM career. The senior plans to use the NCAA's blanket waiver for an additional year of eligibility and return for the 2021-22 season.

In the series with the Ragin' Cajuns, Crockett just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds on Feb. 11 at Lafayette. On Feb. 13 in Monroe, Crockett tracked down eight rebounds.

She pulled down eight rebounds to go with five points on Feb. 5 vs. UT Arlington and added 10 rebounds, all defensive, to go with seven points on Feb. 6 vs. the Mavericks. It was the fifth time she reached double-digit rebounds on the season.

Crockett scored nine points and pulled in eight rebounds at Little Rock on Jan. 29. She tracked down eight rebounds in each game of the weekend series at Texas State on Jan. 22 and Jan. 23. She added 13 points on Jan. 22 and five points on Jan. 23.

Crockett bounced back on Jan. 16 vs. Arkansas State with eight points and 14 rebounds in nearly 36 minutes against the Red Wolves. On Jan. 15 contest, Crockett was limited to two points and four rebounds and played just 14 minutes due to foul trouble. It was the first time this season Crockett was held to less than seven rebounds in a game.

Crockett collected a career-high 15 rebounds, including 11 in the first half and seven in the first quarter, to go with eight points on Jan. 9 at UT Arlington. Crockett opened the weekend series with the Mavericks with six points and eight rebounds at UTA on Jan. 8.

Crockett pulled down seven rebounds Dec. 17 at Louisiana Tech and eight boards Dec. 15 vs. Mississippi Valley State, including six offensive rebounds. Crockett has tallied at least seven rebounds in all six contests and has at least four offensive rebounds in three of the last four games.

Crockett posted her first double-double of the season and the third of her ULM career Dec. 12 at Northwestern State. She scored a career-high 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting and made all six of her free throw attempts. She matched a career-high with 13 rebounds, with eight on the offensive end, in 32 minutes of action Saturday. She had nine rebounds against Grambling State and added seven boards against Louisiana College. She collected a game-high 11 rebounds in 27 minutes in the season-opener at Arkansas.

She is also known for posting social media videos showcasing her musical talent. Crockett took violin lessons while growing up and is a self-taught piano and guitar player.

BRIMZY'S BURST        
Junior guard Kierra Brimzy has led ULM in scoring in 12 games this season. She paced the Warhawks again on Saturday with 15 points vs. Texas State while adding a career-high seven assists.

She tallied 16 points to lead ULM in the first game of the series vs. Little Rock on Feb. 21. 

Brimzy led the Warhawks with 23 points on 4-of-5 3-point shooting on Feb. 13 vs. Ragin' Cajuns. It marked the fourth time this season Brimzy had eclipsed 20 or more points. She scored 22 points and a tracked down a season-high six rebounds vs. UT Arlington on Feb. 5.

The Natchitoches, Louisiana, native was held under 10 points in consecutive games for the first time this season in the weekend series at Little Rock on Jan. 29-30.

Brimzy paced ULM with 16 points on Jan. 22 at Texas State and matched a season-high with 24 points Jan. 23 against the Bobcats.

She led the Warhawks with 13 points on Jan. 15 vs. Arkansas State. 

Brimzy scored in double figures in her first six games of the season. She paced the Warhawks with 16 points at UT Arlington on Jan. 8 and at Louisiana Tech on Dec. 17. She scored 13 points against Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 15. 

Brimzy played in her hometown on Dec. 12, scoring a season-high 24 points while pulling down five rebounds and handing out an assist against Northwestern State. Brimzy scored eight points in the first quarter to help the Warhawks to an early 18-6 lead and had 22 points over the first three quarters. 

Brimzy led ULM with 11 points against Grambling. She made her ULM debut on Dec. 6 vs. Louisiana College, leading the team with 15 points while adding a rebound and an assist.

Brimzy leads the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game. She ranks seventh in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring.

Brimzy sat out the 2019-20 season following a transfer from Tyler Junior College. She averaged 14.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists as a sophomore with the Apache Ladies in 2018-19. She averaged 13.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game as a freshman in 2017-18.

CLIMBING THE HILL        
Freshman forward Morgan Hill broke through in the weekend series against the Ragin' Cajuns. The Houston native posted career highs in points and rebounds in each game against the Cajuns, going for a team-high 11 points and eight rebounds in Lafayette on Feb. 11 before backing up both of those totals on Feb. 13 with her first double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Hill entered the series averaging just 2.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. She averaged 13.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game on the series.

Over the last six games, Hill is averaging 7.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

Hill has been receiving increased minutes in the post, and also earned career high totals on the floor against the Cajuns. Hill played a career-best 24 minutes in Lafayette on Feb. 11 before topping that on Feb. 13 with 27 minutes at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. Hill had not played more than 19 minutes prior to the Feb. 11 contest.

GOINS TAKES THE FLOOR TWO FINAL TIMES AT FANT        
Senior guard/forward Whitney Goins played her final games at Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Friday and Saturday against Texas State. She was the only senior honored prior to Saturday's home finale with Diamond Brooks and Kierra Crockett each planning to return next season. Goins scored 12 points on Friday on 4-of-5 3-point shooting to reach double figures for the eighth time this season. She scored seven points with seven rebounds in her final game at Fant on Saturday.

Goins stepped up to help lead the Warhawks on the offensive end of the floor in games against UT Arlington and Little Rock. Goins scored 11 points on 3-of-5 3-point shooting with a season-high six rebounds vs. UT Arlington on Feb. 5.

Goins led the Warhawks in the series at Little Rock. Goins, who missed nearly the entire week of practice leading into the Little Rock series with a heel injury, was a game-time decision on Jan. 29, but came off the bench to lead the team with 12 points and added six rebounds. She returned to the starting lineup on Jan. 30 to score a season-high 17 points.
Goins snapped out of a statistical slide on the offensive end of the floor against Arkansas State. After scoring in double figures in two of the first three games of the season, Goins totaled five points over the next five contests while shooting 2-of-23 (1-of-14 3FG) from the field in that stretch. Head coach Brooks Donald Williams speaks highly of Goins' work ethic and time spent in the gym. Her hard work and stick-to-itiveness paid off against the Red Wolves. Goins knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter on Jan. 15, cutting an early 7-point A-State lead to one. She finished with 11 points to tie Gara Beth Self for second on the team. The next afternoon, Goins led the Warhawks with 10 points and canned two more treys.

Goins opened her senior campaign with 11 points and three 3-pointers at No. 16 Arkansas on Dec. 3 and added 10 points with a pair of treys vs. Grambling on Dec. 10.

DIAMOND IN THE POST    
Senior Diamond Brooks continues to be efficient in the post for ULM. The Kentwood, Louisiana, native is shooting 62% (37-of-60) from the field inside Sun Belt Conference play and 60% (51-of-85) for the season. The senior plans to use the NCAA's blanket waiver for an additional year of eligibility and return for the 2021-22 season.

Brooks had 12 points and six rebounds in the series opener against Little Rock on Feb. 21. She followed it up with six points and team-high eight rebounds in ULM's win over the Trojans on Feb. 22.

Brooks scored eight points and added three rebounds with a season-high three assists vs. UT Arlington on Feb. 5. She had eight points and tracked down seven points in the Jan. 23 loss at Texas State. She led the team with 10 points in the weekend finale at UT Arlington on Jan. 9. She set a new season-high with nine rebounds vs. Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 15. She matched her season-high with 11 points and added five rebounds at Northwestern State on Dec. 12. She scored 11 points in just eight minutes vs. Louisiana College on Dec. 6. 

Brooks saw a significant increase in her role in the post in 2019-20. Brooks moved into the full-time starting center position, playing in all 29 games while starting 28 last season. She nearly tripled her scoring average to 8.0 points per game while increasing her rebounding average by 2.3 boards per game to 5.9. Brooks averaged 26.0 minutes per game as a junior after averaging just 13.9 minutes per game as a sophomore.

VAN SCHAIK PROVIDES SPARK    
Sophomore guard Linda Van Schaik led ULM in its victory over Little Rock on Feb. 22. Van Schaik came off the bench to hit her first three 3-point attempts of the game and then added 10 points in the fourth quarter, going 6-of-8 from the free throw line in the frame, to finish with a career-high 19 points and eight rebounds. She finished 5-of-6 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from 3-point range in the game, with her only miss coming on a forced 3-point attempt with the shot clock winding down.

Van Schaik gave ULM a much-needed lift in the second half of a pair of games this season. Van Schaik came off the bench on Feb. 6 vs. UT Arlington and knocked down 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions to jump start a sputtering ULM offense. Van Schaik finished with a team-best 15 points on the game.

Van Schaik played a huge role in ULM's rally on Dec. 15 vs. Mississippi Valley State. Van Schaik entered the game for the first time at the 4:08 mark of the third quarter with ULM trailing 42-27. The native of South Holland, Netherlands, proceeded to score 16 of ULM's final 24 points to lead the team in scoring on the night. She shot 5-of-7 from the floor and 3-of-5 from 3-point range.

Van Schaik knocked down two 3-pointers and three free throws in the third quarter to help bring ULM within five at the end of the quarter, 45-40. In the fourth quarter, van Schaik hit a third trey and had a pair of layups that brought ULM within two points of MVSU each time.

Van Schaik has scored in double figures four times this season after scoring 11 points vs. Louisiana College on Dec. 6. Through 22 games, she is averaging 5.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.

GATTE RETURNS TO LINEUP    
Junior guard Maddi Gatte made her 2020-21 season debut in the series at UT Arlington. Gatte missed the first six games of the season while recovering from offseason surgery. After playing in nine consecutive games, Gatte has missed the last seven games entering the Sun Belt Championship.

Gatte played five minutes in her season debut Jan. 8 at UT Arlington, coming up with three rebounds and two blocked shots. On Saturday, Gatte played six minutes, scoring her first points of the season on a baseline jumper while adding a steal. Against Arkansas State, Gatte played 12 minutes on Jan. 15 with a season-high six points and a steal. In the Jan. 16 series finale, Gatte played a season-high 22 minutes with four points and a season-best four rebounds, two assists and a steal. She scored four points with two assists in 17 minutes on Jan. 22 at Texas State.

Gatte suffered the loss of her 16-year-old brother Brennon on Nov. 16 due to complications from hydrocephalus. He was a junior at Iota (La.) High School, where he played football, ran track, was involved in powerlifting, maintained an A average and was in the honors program. To honor Brennon's life, the ULM women's basketball team wears his football jersey number, 45, on the back of its shooting shirts.

WARHAWKS RETURN FROM LAYOFF    
The Jan. 8 game against UT Arlington marked ULM's first game in 22 days due to COVID-19 concerns within the Warhawk women's basketball program. It was the longest in-season layoff for ULM since a 23-day break in the nonconference schedule in the 1994-95 season (Dec. 6 – Dec. 29). ULM had three games postponed due to COVID-19: McNeese State (Dec. 21) and at Arkansas State (Jan. 1-2).