MONROE, La. – The ULM women's basketball team schedule features a full slate of games, but Tuesday morning's contest vs. Centenary, its annual Education Day game at Fant-Ewing Coliseum, may be one of the most important it will play all year. When the Warhawks and Ladies tip off at 11:30 a.m. CT Tuesday, thousands of local elementary school students will be in the stands, visiting a university campus and watching student-athletes compete.
"This is one of our favorite games of the year," said ULM head women's basketball coach Brooks Donald Williams. "Being able to host several thousand elementary students on our campus is special."
Centenary and ULM have met on 18 previous occasions with the Warhawks holding a 17-1 series advantage and 10-0 mark in games played in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Warhawks took the 70-36 win last season behind Gara Beth Self's game-high 13 points. Katlyn Manuel collected a game-high seven rebounds in the victory. ULM allowed only single-digit scoring totals in two quarters, the second and fourth, and finished the game with a 14-0 scoring run.
Despite the one-day turnaround from game action on Sunday, ULM is bolstered by a cohesive starting five and a healthy bench to give the Warhawks the depth they have missed the last few seasons.
"We are excited about another opportunity to get better," Williams said. "Having Emma, Gara Beth and Sha'Miya back in action will make a world of difference. We are looking forward to shifting back to some of our original positions with their return."
Louisiana Tech held off the surging Warhawks' second-half rally Sunday, 68-53. A 17-4 run in the third quarter pulled ULM within three points after trailing by as many as 13 in the first half. LA Tech started the fourth period with an 8-0 run and outscored ULM 21-9 in the period to take its fifth-straight win in the I-20 series. Manuel had 13 points and nine rebounds to lead ULM.
