ULM Warhawks

ULM Warhawks (1-1 overall, 0-0 Sun Belt Conference) at McNeese MTE

Game 3: ULM vs. Milwaukee Panthers (0-2 overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
4 p.m. Thursday, November 16, 2023 | Legacy Center | Lake Charles, La.
LISTEN: 1680 AM KRJO | LIVE STATS

Game 4: ULM vs. Mississippi Valley State Devilettes (0-2 overall, 0-0 SWAC)
4 p.m. Friday, November 17, 2023 | Legacy Center | Lake Charles, La.
LISTEN: 1680 AM KRJO | LIVE STATS

Game 5: ULM at McNeese Cowgirls (1-1 overall, 0-0 Southland)
4 p.m. Saturday, November 17, 2023 | Legacy Center | Lake Charles, La.
LISTEN: 105.7 FM/540 AM KMLB | LIVE STATS

GAME NOTES

MONROE, La. - The ULM women's basketball team opens play in the McNeese Multi-Team Event at 4 p.m. Thursday when they take on Milwaukee at the Legacy Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The Warhawks continue play at the MTE at 4 p.m. Friday against Mississippi Valley State and 4 p.m. Saturday against host McNeese.

The Warhawks (1-1) picked up the first win of the Missy Bilderback era on Saturday with a 78-62 win over Miami (Ohio) at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. Nunu Bradford led the Warhawks with 30 points (6-of-11 3-point field-goal attempts) and added a team-high eight assists with seven rebounds, while Jakayla Johnson (3-of-6 3-pointers) and Lauren Gross (5-of-9 3-pointers) added 15 points apiece.  The Warhawks knocked down 15 treys in the game, with 14 coming from Bradford, Johnson and Gross.

ULM's 2023-24 roster features eight returning players and eight newcomers, with all eight newcomers being transfers from NCAA Division I schools. Nunu Bradford (Clemson), Jakayla Johnson (Auburn) and Sania Wells (Auburn) all played for Power 5 schools, while Lauren Gross (Southern Miss), Brianna Harris (Troy), Dee Haymer (South Alabama) and Chardai Watkins (Southern Miss) all transferred from inside the Sun Belt Conference. Kyjai Miles transfers in from Central Arkansas. Four of the transfers, Bradford, Haymer, Johnson and Miles, all played for Missy Bilderback at Jones College. Returning player Olivia Knight also played for Bilderback at Jones. Three of the eight returning players saw playing time at Arkansas and against Miami (Ohio).

GAME BASICS    
ULM and Milwaukee meet for the first time at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Legacy Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It is also the first time for ULM head coach Missy Bilderback to square off with the Panthers and for Milwaukee coach Kyle Rechlicz to meet the Warhawks.

ULM is 1-1 after dropping a season-opening contest at Arkansas, 81-76, on Nov. 7, before bouncing back with a 78-62 win over Miami (Ohio) last Saturday, while Milwaukee is 0-2 after falling to Wisconsin, 61-52, on Nov. 7, and dropped a contest last Sunday against UIC, 73-70.

Friday's game is the fifth all-time meeting between ULM and Mississippi Valley State, with the series tied at two. The Warhawks won the first two meetings, 72-65 on Dec. 9, 2018, and 74-66 on Dec. 29, 2019, before MVSU won the last two meetings, 53-51 on Dec. 15, 2020, and 73-72 in overtime on Dec. 20, 2021. All four previous meetings have been played inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

It is the first time for Bilderback to meet MVSU, and it is the first time for MVSU head coach Kimberly Anderson to face ULM.

Saturday's game is the 75th all-time meeting between ULM and McNeese, with the Warhawks leading the series, 42-32. The two teams have met at least once in 39 of the last 41 seasons, with the exceptions being the 2012-13 and 2020-21 seasons. McNeese has won six of the last seven meetings in the series. Bilderback is facing McNeese for the first time, while McNeese head coach Lynn Kennedy is 2-0 against ULM.

There is no video stream for this week's games. Thursday and Friday's games will air on 1680 AM KRJO and stream on 997thelegend.com and the TuneIn app with Ben Milam on the play-by-play.

THE LAST TIME OUT    
ULM 78, Miami (Ohio) 62 on Nov. 11, 2023, in Monroe, Louisiana - Nunu Bradford had every right to grin as she dribbled out the final seconds of ULM's 78-62 win over Miami (Ohio) Saturday night.

Bradford stuffed the stat sheet with 30 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and six 3-pointers to lead an impressive showing by the Warhawks (1-1) that made a winner of first-year head coach Missy Bilderback in her Fant-Ewing Coliseum debut.

ULM led from the jump, with Jakayla Johnson and Lauren Gross adding 15 points to the effort. The Warhawks made 15 3-pointers, outrebounded the RedHawks 41-31, scored 16 points off turnovers and had 19 assists. Gross made five 3-pointers and Johnson added three to the long-range attack.

Paced by Bradford's 10 first-quarter points and two 3-pointers, the Warhawks raced to an early advantage. ULM made 6-of-11 3-point shots to surge ahead 25-17 after one period.

Points were harder to come by in a defensive second quarter that saw Miami outscore ULM 13-11.

After trailing by as many as 12, Miami pulled within three points at 31-28 with a 9-0 run. ULM went more than three minutes without a bucket until Gross stroked her third 3-pointer with 1:05 left in the half.

ULM took a 36-30 lead into the break, led by 13 points and four assists from Bradford and nine points from Gross. The Warhawks shot 38 percent from the floor (13-of-34) but made 8-of-20 3-point shots.

ULM outscored Miami 14-2 on points off turnovers through two quarters while the RedHawks held a 20-8 edge in points in the paint.

The Warhawks pounced on their foe again to start the third, bolting to an 8-0 run to push the lead back to 12 at 44-32. Johnson, who scored 34 in ULM's season-opening loss at Arkansas, and Bradford each contributed 7 points in the 22-9 third period as the lead increased to 58-39.

Jadyn Scott led Miami (0-2) with 23 points and nine rebounds.

Bilderback emerged from the locker room doused with water by her team, in celebration of her first Division I win after coming to ULM following eight seasons at Jones College.

2023-24 SEASON PREVIEW     
BY ULMWARHAWKS.COM ONLINE COLUMNIST PAUL LETLOW - First-year coach ULM women's basketball coach Missy Bilderback isn't accustomed to losing.

In eight years at Jones College, she won seven consecutive NJCAA Region 23 Tournaments, six of the last seven conference titles and represented Mississippi in the NJCAA Tournament in Lubbock, Texas, seven straight years. Her win-loss record was an amazing 198-33 (.857) overall in eight seasons, including a 100-11 conference record.

Now tasked with fixing a Division I program that hasn't posted a winning record for more than a decade, Bilderback took drastic measures since arriving on campus last March. In addition to hiring a staff, Bilderback also brought in eight new players, including transfers with Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and Sun Belt Conference experience.

"We've brought in eight and they are a really good talent level," Bilderback said. "They're great competitors who work super hard. They're here to win. A lot of them are graduate transfers, so it's an older and mature team. We felt like we needed that to flip the program. Talent level and maturity is really important."

Clearly Bilderback knows talent and knows how to develop it, too. The seven-time NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year sent 43 players to four-year programs, including current ULM point guard Olivia "Little Bit" Knight.

ULM's wave of newcomers includes Lauren Gross (Southern Miss), Sania Wells (Auburn), Brianna Harris (Troy), Kyjai Miles (Central Arkansas), Destiny "Dee" Haymer (South Alabama), Daisha "Nunu" Bradford (Clemson), Chardai Watkins (Southern Miss), and Jakayla Johnson (Auburn).

"All the transfers played," Bilderback said. "That's the thing. They played at their previous schools. There are a lot of different players who can contribute in different ways. We can go small or go big. There's a lot of possibilities for this team."

Said Gross: "The thing that stands out to me is the competitive nature of each and every single one of us. The talent level is just insane. But as far as day to day, which is what builds winning programs, everyone on the floor comes to compete every single day. I've been a part of different groups and it's hard to get a group to compete hard every day. We compete every day."

It helped that Bilderback was already familiar with a number of potential targets, which made selling them on ULM a little easier.     

"We found a few players we were familiar with that had played for us before," Bilderback said. "We've got a staff that's pretty familiar with each other and we brought in student-athletes who have played for us before. I think that's helped with the transition."

Bradford, Johnson, Haymer and Miles all played for Bilderback at Jones. Additionally, the staff had established recruiting relationships with Harris, Wells, Watkins and Gross before they transferred to ULM.

"Being familiar with the players and them being familiar with us gave us an advantage in bringing in top-tier talent," Bilderback said.

In addition to the new additions, Bilderback mentioned returnees Knight, Myca Trail and Katlyn Manuel as others expected to contribute. And ULM is still waiting on an eligibility ruling for center Emma Merriweather, who has asked the NCAA to give her one more year.

The 6-5 center led ULM in scoring (10.1 points per game), rebounding (10.6 rpg), blocked shots (school single-season record 91) and field-goal percentage (.543; 107-of-197) last year while earning Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Year as well as All-Sun Belt Third-Team honors.

"We're hopeful with Emma," Bilderback said. "She's shown up every day and worked really hard."

Bilderback arrived on campus offering a fast-paced approach to everything, from roster flips to style of play. Adding players who fit that mode was a high priority.

"You win with your guards first," she said. "If you get good guard play, you've always got a shot. We were trying to find high-level guards who could create on their own and be able to play a transition-style, up-tempo game."

"Nunu" Bradford should make an instant impact after starting 53 games at Clemson over the past two seasons. The 5-8 senior guard averaged 10.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, led the team in 3-point field goals (52) and ranked first in the Atlantic Coast Conference's with 83 steals.

"Obviously, she's got an ability to go find a bucket," Bilderback said. "She also led the ACC in steals last year, so she has the ability to go create some offense from her defense and quickness. She has a lot of natural instincts."

Wells played in 106 games with 34 starts at Auburn from 2019-23, and posted double figures in scoring 25 times.

"That maturity and experience is going to be huge for us," Bilderback said. "The game is really slow for her. You can tell how experienced she is because things just happen naturally."

Johnson, a 5-9 junior guard from Auburn, appeared in 30 games as a redshirt sophomore at last season, including 17 starts.

"She's a long, athletic guard who finds ways to impact through her rebounding and her defense," Bilderback said. "She's really a three-level scorer. She can get to the rim, she's got a pretty mid-level jumper and has improved her three-ball over the years."

A 6-0, forward, Harris began her career at Louisiana Tech before transferring to Troy.

"I think she's going to be really good in what we do," Bilderback said.

A 5-9 guard, Gross was a team captain who appeared in 64 games, including 35 starting assignments, at Southern Miss.

"She's going to have the ability to impact not only through her ability to shoot the basketball but also her day-to-day intangibles," Bilderback said. "We basically have a coach on the floor in Lauren."

The Warhawks haven't posted a winning season since finishing 17-15 (9-8 Sun Belt) in 2010-11. Last season, ULM finished 7-22, 3-5 in the Sun Belt.

Still, with all the changes underway, the Warhawks could be a team that surprises in Bilderback's maiden voyage.

"So many of our players are here to prove something," Bilderback said. "Maybe some of them have not had the best experience at another school. There may be some who were overlooked. Maybe they have one year left to win a championship or just want the opportunity to compete.

"If you ask our team in our huddle, that's what we're working for every day – an opportunity to compete and win a championship."

ULM opens the season on Nov. 7 at Arkansas and makes its home debut on Nov. 11 against Miami (Ohio). The Warhawks begin Sun Belt Conference play at home against James Madison on Dec. 30. 

"From a conference standpoint, I think we've got as good a chance to win on a given night as anybody else," Bilderback said. "I feel confident in not only the talent but the character of our players."

BRADFORD NAMED PRESEASON THIRD-TEAM ALL-SUN BELT    
Senior guard Daisha "Nunu" Bradford was voted Preseason Third-Team All-Sun Belt Conference. Bradford was chosen after a vote by the conference's 14 head coaches.
 
Bradford, a transfer from Clemson, enters her first season at ULM in 2023-24. She started 53 games at Clemson from 2021-23. Bradford started 35 contests for Clemson last season, averaging 10.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game while helping the Tigers to a 19-16 record and reach the WNIT Super 16. She led the Tigers in 3-point field goals made (52) for the second year in a row while enhancing her reputation as one of the Atlantic Coast Conference's top perimeter defenders, finishing first in the ACC and No. 19 in NCAA Division I in steals with 83. She also collected a career-best 109 assists. Bradford scored in double figures 18 times, including a career-high 22 points against Western Carolina.
 
She appeared in 29 games in 2021-22, including 18 starts for the Tigers, averaging 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game. She led Clemson with 33 made 3s and scored in double figures 11 times.
 
Bradford played one season at Jones College for new ULM head coach Missy Bilderback in 2020-21, earning NJCAA First-Team and Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-America honors after leading Jones in scoring (17.3 ppg.), rebounding (7.0 rpg.), assists (95), steals (60) and blocked shots (16) en route to a 20-1 record, including a perfect 13-0 mark in league play.
 
Bradford spent two seasons at Tallahassee Community College to open her collegiate career. She averaged 17.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game as a freshman in 2018-19 while earning WBCA All-America honorable mention and first-team All-Panhandle Conference honors. She sat out the 2019-20 campaign.
 
She was a four-year starter at LeFlore High School in Mobile, Alabama, helping the Rattlers to a combined record of 119-13 (.902), including a perfect 35-0 record en route to the 2016 Class 6A state championship.

BILDERBACK BRINGS WINNING BLUEPRINT TO ULM WOMEN'S BASKETBALL    
BY ULMWARHAWKS.COM ONLINE COLUMNIST PAUL LETLOW - New ULM women's basketball coach Missy Bilderback isn't one to back down from a challenge.

Eight years ago, Jones College took a chance on hiring the successful high school basketball coach from Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Bilderback stacked up wins and championships over 16 years at Presbyterian Christian School. She backed her impressive record of 482-117 with six MAIS state championships and two MAIS overall state crowns in 2008 and 2014. Her team was runner-up in the overall state tournament in 2013 and 2015 and she guided PCS to 14 consecutive seasons of 20-plus victories.

Prior to Bilderback's arrival at Jones in 2015, the Bobcats had never advanced to the national tournament. But the program's fortunes changed quickly with her winning touch.

Under Bilderback, Jones won seven consecutive NJCAA Region 23 Tournaments, six of the last seven conference titles and represented Mississippi in the NJCAA Tournament in Lubbock, Texas, seven-straight years. Her win-loss record is an amazing 198-33 (.857) overall in eight seasons, including a 100-11 conference record.

When ULM Athletics Director John Hartwell set out to find the next head coach of the Warhawks, he identified Bilderback as someone with the tools to complete the same kind of turnaround in Monroe.

"I feel confident we've hired the right person to, pardon the pun, build her back," Hartwell said at the introductory press conference on March 30.

As she spoke to ULM supporters for the first time, the successful junior college mentor embraced the challenges of rebuilding a Division I program that has struggled for more than a decade. The Warhawks haven't posted a winning season since finishing 17-15 overall, 9-8 in the Sun Belt in 2010-11.

 "The Sun Belt Conference is a great conference," Bilderback said. "It's a challenging conference. I do know that. We've sent a lot of players to the Sun Belt Conference over the years. I've watched a lot of games.

"But I can tell you that gone are the days that we're the bottom of the Sun Belt. That's gone. Over. Done. I know that's a big statement but this thing can be flipped quick."

ULM assistant football coach John Carr is a believer after seeing her in action at Jones, where both were employed together for two years.

"She's got a great personality and connects with kids," Carr said. "When you're at a junior college, you go to the lunch rooms together and you've got guys in classes together. You see her walk the halls checking on kids making sure they go to class. She's got an infectious personality and was great to work with."

Hartwell said in the 18 hours after ULM announced the hire, he started receiving positive feedback from fellow athletic directors and women's basketball coaches.

"It's been an 'oh shoot' moment for the rest of the Sun Belt Conference to say, 'Man, Monroe is about to flip this thing really quickly," Hartwell said. "I think that is a statement about the program builder that Missy is."

"This is a tremendous opportunity," Bilderback said. "I know that and I see that. I'm smart; I know there have been some challenges in the past. I'm not scared of that. I'm excited about it. I can't wait to get to work."

Bilderback knows it takes talent to win and accumulating players is another of her strengths. The seven-time NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year sent 43 players to four-year programs, including current ULM point guard Olivia "Little Bit" Knight.

"I know that the blueprint that we have from a recruiting model and building a day-to-day culture I believe in it and I'm passionate about it," she said. "I'll work tirelessly to make sure you have a program here you can be proud of."

ULM football's offensive coordinator Matt Kubik thought of Bilderback as a potential candidate immediately when the Warhawks began searching for a new coach. In 2021, Kubik served as offensive coordinator at Columbia (Miss.) High School, where Bilderback's husband Chip was head coach of a state championship team.

"She has that 'more with less' mentality," Kubik said. "From what I understand after talking to a bunch of people, man, I think it's a really, really good fit for ULM. I'm just happy that we were able to say, 'What about Missy?' to Mr. Hartwell and he saw the same things John and I saw in her for sure."

As for style of play, Bilderback promised an exciting brand of basketball.

"We like to get up and go," she said. "We like to run the floor and we love the transition game. We love to defend at a high level. So, we're going to play a fun style of basketball you guys will enjoy and will want to come watch and support."

Bilderback's teams are even intriguing to watch while practicing, according to Carr.

"We'd heard stories," Carr said. "If you really want to be entertained, go watch her practice.  I remember several of us said, 'Let's go watch the girls practice.'

"We walked in and sat down and she didn't even know we were in there. Just watching her coach her girls and how hard she coached them and their response to that hard coaching, and the way they played up and down the court, we all came away really impressed. Numerous times when we had time, we'd go in and watch her girls practice. It spoke volumes to us about her style. I was sold on Missy Bilderback from that day."

WATKINS MOVES FROM SOUTHERN MISS TO ULM    
Chardai Watkins, a 5-foot-9 guard who played in 30 games as a true freshman at Southern Miss last season, has signed a grant-in-aid to attend ULM and compete in women's basketball in 2023-24. Watkins becomes first-year ULM head coach Missy Bilderback's first signee in the 2023 recruiting class.
 
A native of Panola, Alabama, Watkins made 30 appearances for the Lady Eagles in 2022-23, including four consecutive starts in January. She contributed six points and five rebounds (three offensive boards) in 25 minutes at Marshall. Watkins hit 4-of-6 field-goal attempts and matched her season-high with eight points to go along with five boards at App State. She pulled down a season-best eight rebounds (three offensive boards) in 19 minutes at ULM. Watkins collected seven rebounds and four steals in her first collegiate start against Arkansas State. She netted eight points while playing a season-high 26 minutes at South Alabama.
 
"We are excited to have Chardai join us in Monroe," Bilderback said. "We've had a great relationship with her and her family for a while now.
 
"She is a strong guard that has the ability to finish around the rim with contact. We feel confident her skill set matches our style of play. Her overall attitude and experience in the Sun Belt make her a great addition to our roster."
 
Watkins became a three-time Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State selection at Sumter Central High School in York, Ala. As a senior in 2021-22, she was named a finalist for Class 4A Player of the Year as well as ASWA All-State First Team and The Tuscaloosa News Super Five (all-area team) after averaging 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. She also earned a position on the Class 4A All-State Tournament Team in 2022.
 
Watkins sat out her entire junior season while recovering from an injury.
 
She received ASWA All-State Third-Team honors for the second year in a row after averaging 19.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2019-20. Watkins also earned ASWA All-State Third-Team recognition as a freshman after averaging 13.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 4.9 steals in 2018-19. She posted four 20-point games and five double-doubles (three of those were in points and rebounds; the other two were in points and steals) as a freshman.
 
In 2017-18, Watkins made her presence known on the Jaguar varsity roster as an eighth-grader, contributing 12.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.8 steals.

ULM Women's Basketball Adds Auburn Transfer Johnson to 2023-24 Roster    
Jakayla Johnson, a 5-foot-9 guard who earned JUCO All-America honors as a freshman at Jones College and later became a 17-game starter at Auburn last season, has signed a grant-in-aid to attend ULM and compete in women's basketball in 2023-24.
 
Johnson, who has at least two years of eligibility remaining, becomes first-year ULM head coach Missy Bilderback's second signee in the 2023 recruiting class.
 
A native of Clinton, Mississippi, Johnson appeared in 30 games as a red-shirt sophomore at Auburn in 2022-23, including 17 starting assignments. She played 20 or more minutes in 11 contests. Johnson started 10 consecutive games at point guard at midseason and led the Tigers in assists three times. She matched her season high with nine points – all in the second half – against Arkansas while hitting 4-of-6 field-goal attempts. Johnson recorded a season-high six assists in 29 minutes at Kentucky. She contributed nine points, six rebounds and four assists while logging a season-best 33 minutes against Missouri. Johnson added eight points each against UCF and Samford.
 
She enrolled at Auburn in January 2022 after suffering a season-ending injury at Jones College in December 2021. Johnson started the first five games of 2021-22 for the Bobcats and averaged 16.8 points, 3.0 assists and 2.8 steals. She connected on 10-of-18 shots from the field and finished with a season-high 25 points at Arkansas State Mid-South to go along with six rebounds and five steals. Johnson netted 22 points (8-of-10 FG shooting) in 17 minutes against Wallace State in the season opener.
 
As a true freshman playing for Coach Bilderback at Jones College in 2020-21, Johnson was named WBCA JUCO All-American (one of 10 selected) after averaging 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while helping the Bobcats to a 20-1 overall record, including a perfect 13-0 in conference games, and the program's first-ever NJCAA No. 1 national ranking. She also earned All-MACCC First Team and NJCAA All-Region 23 honors as well as being selected to the Region 23 All-Tournament Team. Johnson scored in double figures in 16 of 20 games, including six 20-point efforts, and recorded 59 assists and 48 steals. She also shot better than 80 percent from the free-throw line, hitting 89-of-111 attempts. Johnson collected a season-high seven assists against Coahoma in the Region 23 Tournament. She produced a double-double at Southwest Mississippi, finishing with 23 points (10-of-20 FG shooting) and 10 rebounds. Johnson made 10-of-17 field-goal attempts, including 4-of-6 3-pointers, and 15-of-19 free-throw attempts en route to a career-best 39 points against Mississippi Gulf Coast.
 
"We're super excited to welcome Jakayla to ULM," Bilderback said. "She brings high-level playing experience and big-time scoring ability to our roster.
 
"We're extremely familiar with her after coaching her at Jones College and we're so thankful to be reunited. Jakayla is an unbelievable teammate, a great person with strong character and she's a winner. She is so versatile and has a dynamic skill set. Jakayla can score on all three levels, and she's committed to working beyond what is required.
 
"We're extremely grateful for the opportunity to coach Jakayla again and can't wait to get to work."
 
She netted more than 900 career points as a three-year varsity member at Clinton High School.
 
Johnson was named all-state after averaging 17.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.6 steals as a senior in 2019-20 while leading the Lady Arrows to a 25-5 record and a Class 6A runner-up finish. She also was selected to the Region 4-6A All-Tournament Team. Johnson shot 50 percent (180-of-358) from the floor and 81 percent (116-of-144) from the free-throw line and her season totals included 81 assists and 105 steals. Johnson reached double figures in scoring in 27 of 30 games, including 10 20-point performances. She also recorded four double-doubles: vs. Raymond (21 points and 11 rebounds), vs. Faith Academy (16/13), vs. Warren Central (19/14) and Tupelo (28/10). Johnson posted 26 points (10-of-12 FG shooting, including 2-of-2 3-pointers) and collected a season-high seven assists against Hernando. She hit 13-of-24 field-goal attempts, including 2-of-5 3s, and 9-of-11 free-throw attempts on her way to a prep-best 37 points against Vicksburg.

ULM Women's Basketball Signs Clemson Transfer Bradford to 2023-24 Season    
Daisha "Nunu" Bradford, a 5-foot-8 guard who started 53 games at Clemson over the past two seasons, signed a grant-in-aid on Saturday, May 6 to attend ULM and compete in women's basketball in 2023-24.
 
Bradford, who has one year of eligibility remaining, becomes first-year ULM head coach Missy Bilderback's third signee in the 2023 recruiting class.
 
"We're so excited for Nunu to be a Warhawk," Bilderback said. "She is a big-time guard with an incredible level of experience. Nunu is super talented and a high-volume scorer. She is a true three-level scoring guard. She can impact the game in so many other ways as well. Her length and ability to rebound the ball from the guard position separate her from the rest.
 
"But as good as she is, Nunu also is a tremendous teammate and person, who loves to compete and win. We're so thankful she chose us over so many high-profile programs to come play her last season of college basketball here at ULM. Warhawk fans are going to absolutely love Nunu Bradford."
 
In 2022-23, Bradford started all 35 games for Clemson and averaged 10.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game while helping the Tigers to a 19-16 record and an appearance in the WNIT Super 16. She led the team in 3-point field goals made (52) for the second year in a row while enhancing her reputation as one of the Atlantic Coast Conference's top perimeter defenders, finishing first in the ACC and No. 19 in the NCAA Division I in steals with 83. Bradford also collected a career-best 109 assists.
 
She scored in double figures in 18 games, including a career-high 22 points against Western Carolina. Bradford set career highs for assists (8) and steals (6) in the WNIT Super 16 against Florida. She tallied 17 points (3-of-5 3FG shooting) and eight rebounds against High Point. Bradford hit 7-of-10 field-goal attempts, including 4-of-6 3s, at Miami (Fla.) and finished with 18 points and four assists. She played a solid all-around game against Syracuse, contributing 19 points on 8-of-16 field-goal shooting to go along with four rebounds and four assists. Bradford pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds against Wofford.
 
In 2021-22, Bradford appeared in 29 games for Clemson, including 18 starting assignments. She averaged 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Her 33 made 3s led the Tigers. Bradford reached double figures in scoring 11 times, including five of the last six games. She had 11 points to go along with a season-high seven assists against Syracuse in the first round of the ACC Tournament. Bradford made 6-of-9 shots from the floor, including 4-of-5 from behind the 3-point arc, and finished with a season-high 18 points at No. 14 Georgia Tech, including a buzzer-beating layup that sent the game into overtime tied at 77-all.
 
A native of Mobile, Alabama, Bradford earned NJCAA First-Team and Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-America honors in 2020-21 after leading Jones College in scoring (17.3 ppg.), rebounding (7.0 rpg.), assists (95), steals (60) and blocked shots (16) en route to a 20-1 record, including a perfect 13-0 in league play. An All-MACCC First-Team selection and unanimous MACCC South Division Most Valuable Player, she ranked second in the conference in scoring while producing six double-doubles. Bradford posted eight 20-point games, including a season-high 38 points at Meridian (12-of-23 FG shooting, including 4-of-8 3s, and 10-of-12 FT shooting).
 
She spent two seasons at Tallahassee Community College, averaging 17.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game as a freshman in 2018-19 while earning WBCA All-America honorable mention and first-team All-Panhandle Conference honors as the Eagles went 25-5 and ranked No. 9 in the final poll. Bradford sat out the 2019-20 campaign.
 
A four-year starter for Coach Darryl Walton at LeFlore High School in Mobile, Bradford helped the Rattlers to a combined record of 119-13 (.902), including a perfect 35-0 record en route to the 2016 Class 6A state championship. She averaged better than 21 points, five rebounds and four assists during her prep career. As a senior in 2017-18, Bradford was named Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State Second Team, All-Coastal First Team as well as AL.com Coastal Alabama Player of the Year while leading LeFlore to a 33-3 record and a trip to the Class 6A semifinals. She was selected to play in the 2018 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. Bradford participated in the 2017 Alabama North-South All-Star Game, earning South MVP honors.

ULM Women's Basketball Signs Former Mississippi Player of the Year Haymer
Former Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year Destiny "Dee" Haymer, a 5-foot-8 guard who started 22 games at South Alabama in 2021-22, has signed a grant-in-aid to attend ULM and compete in women's basketball in 2023-24.
 
Haymer, a graduate transfer from South Alabama with one year of eligibility remaining, becomes first-year ULM head coach Missy Bilderback's fourth signee in the 2023 recruiting class.
 
"We're excited to welcome Dee to the Warhawk family," Bilderback said. "She has a tremendous experience level, great leadership ability and a winning mentality. Dee lives in the gym and doesn't mind paying the price necessary to be successful. Her basketball IQ and decision-making skills make her an elite point guard. We have great belief in Dee and we're thankful we get the opportunity to coach her again."
 
In 2021-22, Haymer started 22 of 25 games for South Alabama and averaged 9.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. She ranked second on the team in minutes played (708; 28.3 per game) and finished third in both assists (47) and steals (32). Her .785 free-throw percentage (51-of-65) also ranked second on the Jaguars. Haymer scored in double figures in 10 games, including a career-high 18 points at App State on 7-of-14 field-goal shooting, including 2-of-5 3-pointers. She collected a season-high six assists against Faulkner. Haymer posted 15 points and a career-high nine rebounds against Mercer. She recorded four steals each against Charleston Southern and Georgia Southern.
 
Haymer graduated from South Alabama in May 2022 with a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies, with a concentration in community services.
 
She started nine games at Cincinnati in 2020-21, averaging 7.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, before suffering a season-ending injury. Haymer reached double figures in scoring four times, including a season-high 13 points against Marquette (6-of-10 FG shooting). She contributed 11 points, seven rebounds and a career-best eight assists at Temple. Haymer netted 10 points each at Wichita State and at UCF.
 
Haymer was rated the nation's No. 12 junior college prospect in 2020 by All Star Girls Report (ASGR) Basketball.
 
A native of Tchula, Miss., Haymer was a two-year starter for Bilderback at Jones College, helping the Bobcats to a combined record of 52-7 (.881) from 2018-20, including back-to-back Region 23 Championships, the 2019 MACCC Championship and consecutive NJCAA Tournament invitations. The Bobcats also went 25-1 in conference games during that two-year span. She was a two-time All-MACJC and two-time All-Region 23 selection.
 
As a sophomore in 2019-20, Haymer was named honorable mention All-American by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association after averaging 11.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.8 rebounds per game while helping Jones College to a 24-4 record. Her 6.8 assists per game ranked fifth in the NJCAA Division I. She scored in double figures in 18 of 25 games, including the last 11 in a row. Haymer, who shot 34 percent (33-of-97) from 3-point range, was credited with 170 assists and 33 steals. She recorded 10 or more assists five times and posted three double-doubles (points and assists). Haymer produced a triple-double in the Bobcats' 84-72 victory over LSU Eunice in the Region 23 semifinals, finishing with a 21 points (8-of-16 FG shooting including 2-of-5 3s), 10 rebounds and 10 assists. She netted 20 points against East Center, hitting 3-of-8 3-pointers and 7-of-9 free-throw attempts.
 
In July 2019, Haymer was selected to participate in the WBCA NJCAA All-Star Weekend in Atlanta.
 
As a freshman in 2018-19, Haymer started 30 of 31 games and averaged 12.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game as Jones College finished 28-3 overall, including a perfect 12-0 in league games. She reached double figures in scoring 22 times while recording 116 assists and 61 steals. Haymer made 34 percent (33-of-98) of her 3-point attempts and 77 percent (69-of-90) from the free-throw line. She had three 20-point games, including a career-high 21 (8-of-17 FG shooting) in the NJCAA Sweet 16 against No. 8-seed New Mexico Junior College. Haymer delivered a triple-double against Three Rivers, posting 13 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. She scored 20 points each against Shelton State and Mississippi Gulf Coast.
 
A four-year starter at Holmes County Central High School in Lexington, Miss., Haymer closed out her prep career by being selected the state's Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 15.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 4.8 steals per game as a senior in 2017-18. She also was named to the Clarion-Ledger's "Dandy Dozen" as senior after scoring 20 or more points in seven games, including five in a row during one stretch.
 
Haymer's prep career totals included 1,406 points, 503 rebounds, 345 steals and 290 assists. In 107 career games, she recorded 10 triple-doubles as well as a quadruple-double (12 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists and 10 steals vs. Greenwood as a sophomore in 2016-17). Haymer helped lead the Lady Jaguars to the 2016 5A state championship as a sophomore (30-1 record).

ULM Women's Basketball Adds Pair of Grad Transfers to Frontcourt
A pair of graduate transfers – 6-foot forward Brianna Harris, from Troy, and 6-1 forward Kyjai Miles, from Central Arkansas – have signed grants-in-aid to attend ULM and compete in women's basketball in 2023-24.
 
Harris appeared in 20 games at Troy and averaged 14.1 minutes per game despite managing an ankle injury throughout the 2021-22 season, as the Trojans claimed the Sun Belt Conference Championship and advanced to the Women's National Invitation Tournament. She collected 37 percent of her rebounds off the offensive glass. Harris scored in double figures in three of her first four games, including 18 points on 7-of-12 field-goal shooting to go along with eight rebounds (4 offensive boards) in the season opener against Talladega College. She netted 12 points (5-of-8 FG shooting) and grabbed five rebounds against Florida A&M. Harris hit 7-of-9 shots from the floor against Bethune-Cookman and finished with 14 points and six rebounds. She set season highs for rebounds (9) and minutes played (33) at Missouri.
 
A native of Mobile, Alabama, Harris spent her first three seasons (2018-21) at Louisiana Tech where she saw action in 70 games, including 28 starting assignments. She had a breakout season for the Lady Techsters in 2020-21, averaging 10.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Harris, who started 13 of 19 games, shot 58 percent (77-of-133) from the field and 73 percent (32-of-44) from the free-throw line. She scored in double figures eight times, including a career-high 25 points at Texas. Harris connected on 9-of-11 field-goal attempts, including a 3-pointer, and 6-of-7 free-throw attempts against the Longhorns and pulled down eight rebounds (4 offensive boards). She recorded a pair of double-doubles at UTSA (18 points and 10 rebounds) and against North Texas (17 points and 14 boards).
 
"We are so excited to add Bre to this roster," Bilderback said. "Her experience level and maturity will provide an immediate impact. We have watched Bre since her high school days and kept up with her success. Her toughness, physicality, and ability to rebound the ball are so valuable. She has also had multiple big games offensively throughout her career and can play multiple positions with her versatility. Her skill set fits our team and needs perfectly. We are very thankful to get to coach Bre this season and can't wait to get started."
 
Harris was named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll in both 2018-19 and 2019-20.
 
She was a Class 6A all-state first-team selection as a senior in 2017-18 at Blount High School in Eight Mile, Alabama.
 
Miles started 25 games at UCA in 2022-23 and led the team in blocked shots (15) and ranked second in rebounding (5.8 per game). She made 40 percent (69-of-172) of her field-goal attempts while scoring in double figures three times. Miles also posted double-digit rebounds in three games. She collected 12 rebounds and four assists against Queens (N.C.). Miles contributed eight points, a career-best 14 rebounds (4 offensive boards) and three blocks at Kennesaw State. She netted 10 points to go along with eight rebounds, two blocks and three steals at Jacksonville State. Miles recorded her first career double-double at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, hitting 5-of-10 shots from the field en route to a season-high 11 points, 11 rebounds (7 offensive boards), three assists and three steals. In her UCA debut, she scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds at Kansas State.
"We are thankful Kyjai is joining us at ULM," Bilderback said. "She has valuable experience starting 45 games in her last two seasons at Division 1. Her length, athleticism, and commitment to defending at a high level separate her. She has a great motor and is an excellent rebounder as well. She will bring a winning mentality and leadership with her work ethic. She is a special person and we are very excited to have the opportunity to coach her,"
 
Prior to transferring to UCA, Miles spent the 2021-22 season at Chicago State where she started 20 of 27 games. She made 7-of-17 field-goal attempts and finished with a career-best 14 points and seven rebounds at Utah Tech. Miles pulled down a season-high nine rebounds (4 offensive boards) at FIU.
 
While playing for Bilderback at Jones College in 2020-21, Miles led the Bobcats in rebounding, averaging 7.5 per game, and ranked second in blocked shots with 15. She recorded double-figure rebounds in four games, including a season-high 14 boards against Western Nebraska in the NCJAA Sweet 16. Miles grabbed 11 rebounds at South Georgia Tech and 10 each at Southwest Mississippi and at Shelton State.
 
She previously appeared in 26 games as a freshman in 2019-20 at Midland (Texas) College.
 
A Dallas native, Miles averaged 11.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and nearly 2.0 blocks per game as a senior in 2018-19 at Skyline High School. She was a three-time District 8-6A Defensive Player of the Year selection by The Dallas Morning News.
 
Her brothers, Keaton (West Virginia, 2011-13; and Arkansas, 2014-16) and Kortrijk (New Mexico State, 2017-18; and Prairie View A&M, 2022-23), played NCAA Division I basketball.

Transfers Gross and Wells Round Out 2023-24 Roster    
First-year ULM women's head basketball coach Missy Bilderback finalized her 2023-24 roster at the beginning of the fall semester with the addition of two guards, in 5-foot-9 Lauren Gross, a graduate transfer from Southern Miss, and 5-7 Sania Wells, a transfer from Auburn. 
 
A three-year letterwinner at Southern Miss, Gross appeared in 64 games, including 35 starting assignments. She shot 30 percent (61-of-201) from 3-point range and 77 percent (27-of-35) from the free-throw line. Gross was presented the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal twice (2019-20 and 2020-21) and earned a spot on the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Rolls in 2021-22.  
 
In 2022-23, Gross started all 31 games and led the team in 3-point field goals made, with a career-high 35. She recorded career highs in both assists (36) and steals (34). Gross scored in double figures in six games and made at least one 3-point field goal in 19 games.  
 
She scored 12 points against Arkansas State, connecting on 4-of-6 3-pointers, in the Sun Belt Championship quarterfinals in Pensacola, Florida. Gross netted 13 points each at Ole Miss, hitting 4-of-5 shots from the floor including 2-of-3 3-pointers, and at South Alabama, connecting on 5-of-9 field-goal attempts including 3-of-6 behind the 3-point arc. She collected a career-best nine rebounds against North Alabama. 
 
A native of Southaven, Mississippi, Gross was one of two student-athletes to play NCAA Division I women's basketball in 2022-23 while working on a doctorate degree (international development). Last season, she also served as team captain for the Sun Belt regular-season Co-Champions.
 
Gross played five seasons of varsity basketball at Northpoint Christian School and helped lead the Trojans to a combined record of 142-18 (.888), with five consecutive trips to the to the Division II-A Final Fours including back-to-back state championships in 2016 and '17. She was named to the state all-tournament team twice and became a two-time West All-Region Team selection (2015 and '17). As a senior in 2017-18, Gross was named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Division II-A All-State Team. She amassed 1,654 points, 738 rebounds, 394 assists and 313 steals during her prep career. 
 
"We are thrilled that Lauren has decided to play her last year with us at ULM," Bilderback said. "She is a winner, and adding her to our roster was an absolute no brainer. Lauren has already elevated our team with her day-to-day leadership and ability to shoot the ball. She's an excellent 3-point shooter and a coach on the floor. We have known and watched Lauren for a long time and always had so much respect for her as a player. We are thankful for her impact and mentality she brings to our program." 
 
A native of Moss Point, Mississippi, Wells played in 106 games, including 34 starts, at Auburn from 2019-23 while averaging 17.8 minutes per contest. She posted double figures in scoring 25 times while hitting nearly 80 percent of her career free-throw attempts (148-of-186). Her .796 career free-throw percentage ranks third in program history.  
 
As a senior in 2022-23, Wells appeared in 31 games, including eight starting assignments, and scored in double digits in 10 games. She netted 10 points and collected a season-high six assists at Tennessee. Wells converted 11-of-12 free-throw attempts and totaled 13 points in 14 minutes against Texas A&M. She made 6-of-8 field-goal attempts and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line at Kentucky and finished with a season-best 16 points to go along with four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Wells contributed 13 points each in back-to-back games at South Carolina and against Alabama. She played a solid all-around game against Samford, posting 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals in 18 minutes.  
 
As a junior in 2021-22, Wells started 25 of 27 games for the Tigers while averaging career highs for points (9.0 per game), rebounds (2.3), assists (2.6), steals (1.1) and minutes played (28.7). She connected on better than 90 percent of her free-throw attempts (76-of-84) and reached double figures in scoring in 13 games, including four in a row during one stretch. Wells hit 9-of-20 shots from the floor en route to a career-high 20 points while playing 44 minutes in an overtime loss at Missouri. She recorded a career-high seven assists against Alabama State. Wells tallied 19 points, six rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals in the season opener against Georgia Southern.    
 
"We are beyond excited to add Sania to our program," Bilderback said. "We recruited Sania in high school and have always had a tremendous amount of belief in her. Our team will be gaining valuable experience from her four-year career in the SEC.
 
"She is an explosive athlete that can handle the ball, has a great mid-range game and will be able to stretch the floor from 3. Her work ethic, personality, and competitive spirit are contagious. We are thrilled Sania is a Warhawk." 
 
Wells was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2020. 
 
She was ranked among the nation's top point guards (No. 27) coming out of East Central High School, according to ESPN HoopGurlz. Wells was named to The Clarion Ledger All-State First Team after averaging 27.3 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals as a senior. A three-time All-South Mississippi selection by the Sun Herald, she was chosen 2019 Player of the Year. She was listed on The Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen as both a junior and senior. Wells, who finished third in the state in scoring as a junior after averaging 25.7 points per game, was named Defensive MVP of the 2018 Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game. She began to emerge as an elite scorer as a sophomore, averaging 24.2 points per game. A five-year varsity starter, Wells eclipsed 3,000 career points.