MONROE, La. – Arkansas State built an early lead off ULM turnovers, then fought off a Warhawk challenge and pulled away for an 82-60 win Monday evening at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
 
Second-year freshman Kyren Whittington collected her second consecutive 20-point game, the third of the season, with a game-high 23 points to pace ULM. Lauryn Pendleton led A-State with 19 points, while Jireh Washington added 18, Trinitee Jackson had a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double and Jade Upshaw scored 11 points.
 
After Whittington knocked down a 3-pointer to open the game, A-State scored the next seven points, using its full court pressure to force three quick ULM turnovers. After Whittington buried a pair of free throws, A-State rattled off a 9-0 run, with a layup by Morgan Wallace pushing the lead to 16-5 with 4:22 left in the quarter.
 
A 3-pointer by Washington extended the lead to 12, 19-7. ULM cut the gap back to six at 19-13 and again at 22-16 on a free throw by true freshman Katlyn Manuel. Pendleton got free at the top of the key and knocked down a trey to end the quarter, putting the Red Wolves up 25-16.
 
A-State extended the lead to 13 early in the second quarter when Wilkerson drained a three to go up 31-18 with 8:30 to go in the half. ULM mounted its comeback there. The Warhawks slowly chipped away, getting within six on a 3-pointer by sophomore Gara Beth Self. A jumper in the lane by Whittington brought ULM within four at 35-31. After Pendleton answered for A-State, Whittington canned a trey from the top of the key to bring ULM within three, 37-34, with 1:56 left in the half.
 
However, A-State struck quickly, going on a 7-0 run in just over a minute, extending the lead back to 11 on Pendleton's trey right before the halftime horn, 46-35.
 
The second half belonged to the Red Wolves. ULM closed within nine at 49-40 on a layup by fifth-year senior Kierra Crockett. A-State fought back with an 11-2 run to take a 60-42 lead on a jumper by Upshaw. The Red Wolves led by 18 after three quarters, 66-48.
 
A-State extended the lead to as much as 28 in the fourth quarter before picking up the 82-60 win.
 
The Red Wolves shot 51% (32-of-63) from the field and 12-of-27 from the 3-point line (44%). ULM shot 42% (41.8%) from the field and 4-of-12 (33%) from deep.
 
ULM plays its final road weekend of the season starting at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at UT Arlington.