Kierra Brimzy layup vs Centenary 2022
Luke Richard/ULM Athletics
54
ULM ULM 2-3,0-0 Sun Belt
78
Winner UCF UCF 3-0,0-0 AAC
ULM ULM
2-3,0-0 Sun Belt
54
Final
78
UCF UCF
3-0,0-0 AAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
ULM ULM 15 10 13 16 54
UCF UCF 12 19 24 23 78

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

ULM Plays Solid First Half; Falls to Hot-Shooting UCF, 78-54

ORLANDO, Fla. – The UCF women's basketball team shot 58 percent (19-of-33) from the field in the second half while outscoring ULM, 47-28, over the final 20 minutes to pull away for a 78-54 non-conference victory Tuesday night at the Addition Financial Arena. It marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
 
ULM got off to a quick start as Katlyn Manuel scored on an offensive rebound and Olivia Knight buried a 3-pointer from the top of the circle as the Warhawks raced out to a 5-0 lead at the 8:59 mark. UCF (3-0) managed to tie the score at 7-all on a pair of free throws from Mya Burns with 5:41 left and took its first lead at 12-10 on a fast-break layup by Destiny Thomas with 2:53 to play in the first quarter. Amaya Ford came off the bench to score five-straight points, including two put-backs, as ULM led 15-12 after the opening period. The Warhawks held the Knights scoreless over the last 2:53 of the quarter.
 
ULM (2-3) matched its largest lead at 17-12 as Manuel grabbed an offensive board off Ford's missed 3-point field-goal attempt and made a short jumper in the lane with 8:56 on the clock. The Warhawks maintained a three-point advantage at 25-22 as Bre Sutton drove down the right side of the lane and converted a layup with 4:21 remaining in the first half. UCF closed the second quarter with a 9-0 run, with seven points coming from Rachel Ranke, and took a 31-26 lead into the locker room at the intermission.
 
Despite shooting just 26 percent (10-of-39) from the floor, ULM led for nearly 12 1/2 minutes in the first half, thanks largely to its efforts on the backboards. The Warhawks outrebounded UCF, 31-20, over the first 20 minutes, including an 18-6 edge on the offensive glass. ULM got seven points each from Manuel and Ford in the first half.
 
"We played a really good first half," ULM head coach Brooks Donald Williams said. "We had some wins in a lot of (stat) columns in the first half. At times, rebounding has been a challenge for us early this season, especially against Louisiana Tech and Central Arkansas. We made a big improvement in that department tonight. We had 18 offensive rebounds in the first half while limiting a very good rebounding team in UCF to just four offensive boards in the first 20 minutes. We probably also played our best defensive half. We guarded really well in those first two quarters."
 
The Knights picked up right where they left off in the third quarter, reeling off seven consecutive points to build a 38-25 on a rebound basket from Thomas with 7:59 on the clock. ULM managed to cut its deficit to nine at 41-32 on Myca Trail's steal and layup with 5:36 to play in the period. UCF put together a 14-3 run and seized a 20-point advantage at 55-35 on a pair of free throws by Sierra Godbolt with nine second left in the third quarter. The Warhawks went nearly 5 1/2 minutes without a field goal during the Knights' decisive spurt, committing five turnovers while misfiring on two shots from the floor during that stretch. Kierra Brimzy connected on a 3-pointer from the left wing at the third-quarter buzzer to bring ULM back to within 55-38.
 
"UCF is the best team we've faced so far, and we were within six points at halftime," Williams said. "We came out in the third quarter and gave up five quick points and the momentum swung very quickly from there. We chipped away at the lead and got it to single digits in the third, but we just could never get over that hump. We did do some really good things as a team tonight."
 
UCF led by as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter, including the final margin.
 
"There's a process when you take over a program that hasn't won in a long time," Williams said. "At first, you get pounded a little bit by the better teams. Now we're at a point in the rebuilding process that we're losing really close games. We reach moments where things could swing our way if we lock in defensively for another possession here or there … or keep somebody off the glass … or execute offensively. It's been something different in our three losses, but we're close.
 
"I'm proud of our bunch tonight because we made a lot of improvements from Saturday's game against Central Arkansas. Our girls made a decision, a commitment and it showed. They're developing the right mentality. I'm really proud of our rebounding and the defensive adjustments our players made tonight. We did some really good things against a quality UCF team. We're definitely moving in the right direction."
 
Thomas made 7-of-11 field-goal attempts and finished with a game-high 16 points to pace the Knights. Rachel Ranke, who hit 5-of-9 shots from the floor including 3-of-6 3s, added 15 points with Taylor Gibson chipped in with 14. Gibson, who connected on 6-of-12 shots from the field, scored 12 second-half points.
 
Brimzy led the Warhawks with 11 points, with all coming in the second half. Ford played better than 21 minutes off the bench and nearly recorded a double-double, finishing with 10 points and eight rebounds (4 offensive boards).
 
"Amaya Ford and Kierra Brimzy both have the ability to stop, pop and shoot over defenders, who have length," Williams said. "Ford goes into the lane with no fear, and she came in off the bench and did some really good things. With her mid-range game, Ford was able to have some success against UCF's length. She can come off a ball screen, dribble, pull up and knock down shots, and she can do the same thing in transition. Amaya gave us a good spark in the first half, and we look forward to her continued growth and development.
 
"Brimzy also came off the bench and put together a solid second half, showing the ability to score in bunches."
 
Manuel, who went scoreless against Central Arkansas, provided seven points and eight rebounds (4 offensive boards).
 
"Katlyn really struggled against Central Arkansas, and for whatever reason, it just wasn't her day," Williams said. "She responded really well tonight. Katlyn has been playing the five for quite some time, and she's had success there because she can out quick a lot of fives. Now, she's back at the four position where she needs to play. Katlyn is adjusting again, and she looked really good tonight. She did some really good things defensively that probably don't show up in her stat line. Katlyn made some nice defensive rotations to help and she gained some more confidence back from the other night."
 
Emma Merriweather made her second-straight start at center for ULM and played a season-best 25 minutes while contributing six points and seven rebounds.
 
"Emma Merriweather provides some size in our front court," Williams said. "I may sound like a broken record, but she needs time. She will continue to get better and better with each passing game. With her size and skill set, Emma can affect a game defensively and offensively. She protects the paint for us on the defensive end, and offensively, she's going to find her groove. Emma is doing some things now that she wasn't doing two weeks ago."
 
ULM returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at Mississippi State, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. in Humphrey Coliseum.
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