MONROE, La. – An early 12-0 run coupled with a strong defensive effort propelled the Ragin' Cajuns to a 73-53 win over ULM Saturday afternoon at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
Makayia Hallmon led all scorers with 21 points, matching a season high, for the Ragin' Cajuns. Tamera Johnson added 11 points and Ashlyn Jones had 10. Sun Belt Conference Preseason Player of the Year Ty'Reona Doucet was limited to seven points and nine rebounds, ending her streak of eight consecutive double-doubles.
ULM was led by fifth-year redshirt junior
Kierra Brimzy's 16 points off the bench, as she scored 15 points in the first half. Second-year freshman
Kyren Whittington added 14 points and true freshman
Amaya Ford added 13.
The Cajuns shot nearly 54% (28-of-52) from the field while limiting ULM to 35% shooting (17-of-48) and 21 turnovers.
The Cajuns controlled the first half from the start. After opening free throws by second-year freshman
Kyren Whittington, the Cajuns went on a 12-0 run, with Lanay Wheaton starting it off with back-to-back buckets. ULM pulled within seven at 12-5 on a 3-pointer by Brimzy, and again at 14-7 on free throws by Brimzy. After the Cajuns extended the lead back to 10, Brimzy struck again with another trey, cutting the gap to 17-10 after a quarter.
In the second quarter, the Cajuns extended the lead to as much as 16 late in the frame at 34-18. Brimzy continued her tear, closing the first half with 15 points on 4-of-5 shooting and 5-of-6 free throw shooting. The Cajuns led 34-20 at halftime.
The Ragin' Cajuns opened the second half with a 12-1 run to extend the lead to 25 at 46-21 on Tamera Johnson's putback. ULM battled back to cut the deficit to 17 at the end of the quarter on a jumper by Ford to trail 55-38 entering the final quarter.
The Warhawks pulled within 15 at 55-40 on a jumper in the lane by Whittington. The Cajuns pulled back away down the stretch, leading by as much as 28, before going on to the 73-53 win.
ULM continues the final homestand of the season at 6:30 p.m. Thursday vs. Georgia Southern.
