MONROE, La. – Jakayla Johnson scored 25 points and added six rebounds, five assists, and a pair of steals and blocks as the ULM women's basketball team (8-4, 0-1 Sun Belt Conference) dropped a back-and-forth game in the conference opener to the SBC's preseason favorite, James Madison (9-4, 1-0), on Saturday (Dec. 30) inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum in Monroe, La.
 
The first conference battle of the season featured 10 lead changes and seven tie scores. Neither team led by more than eight points the entire game.
 
"I thought we made some shots and were balanced on offense," said ULM head coach Missy Bilderback. "Our kids are hurt from this, but it shows they care. We have to keep growing."
 
The Dukes shot 47.6% from the field and drained 8-of-14 attempts from beyond the arc. ULM shot 42.9% from the field and was 10-for-31 from three-point range. JMU tracked down 41 rebounds compared to ULM's 37. The Warhawks forced 11 turnovers and secured six steals while JMU tallied four steals and created 10 turnovers.
 
Joining Johnson in double figures were Katlyn Manuel (14 points), Daisha Bradford (12 points) and Sania Wells (10 points). Bradford led all players with seven assists and added four boards. Manuel grabbed four rebounds while Wells passed a pair of assists.
 
Johnson shared the game-high scoring total with JMU's Jamia Hazell, who shot 10-for-13 from the field. Kseniia Kozlova poured in 16 points and secured six rebounds. Annalicia Goodman chipped in 11 points and Peyton McDaniel racked up 10 points for the Dukes.
 
The visitors started the game on an 8-2 scoring run and forced an early ULM timeout. Bradford connected on a three assisted by Johnson and brought ULM within three points. Johnson knocked down her first shot from the perimeter and made the score 10-8 in favor of the Dukes with 6:50 in the first. Kozlova swished a three-pointer to extend the Dukes' lead to six with 6:01 on the clock. Both teams were held scoreless for the next three minutes of game time. Kyjai Miles ended the scoring drought with a layup at the 2:50 mark. ULM cut the James Madison lead to two points at the end of the first quarter after Manuel made a jump shot before the buzzer.
 
A Manuel bucket with 6:18 in the second quarter tied the score at 23. The Dukes scored four unanswered and reclaimed the lead. JMU claimed its largest lead of the game with 2:19 remaining in the half on a Hazell three-pointer. Manuel scored her eighth point of the half trimming JMU's lead to five with less than a minute on the timer. The Dukes converted a pair of free throws and held a seven-point lead at the break.
 
ULM began the second half on a 4-0 run from a layup by Bradford and two free throws by Wells. Two buckets by Manuel cut JMU's advantage to one point at the 7:18 mark. On the next ULM possession, Wells hit a deep three-pointer that gave the Warhawks its first lead of the afternoon. After JMU tied the score at 46, Wells made two free throws to keep ULM ahead with 4:11 left in the third. The Dukes went on a key 7-0 scoring run and recaptured the lead, 53-48, with 2:55 on the clock. ULM responded when Manuel and Johnson both scored buckets that closed the gap to one. The Warhawks nailed a pair of three-point baskets in the final minute of the third quarter from Johnson and Brianna Harris to regain the lead, 58-57 at the end of the third.
 
At the start of the fourth quarter, Johnson picked up a steal and finished a layup on a fast break to give the Warhawks its biggest lead of the game, 60-57. Harris created space on a turnaround jump shot and kept ULM up by three with 9:21 on the clock. The Dukes rallied and jumped back in front, 63-62 with 8:17 remaining. On the next possession, Harris once again hit a clutch shot to put the Warhawks back ahead. After three straight points by JMU, Johnson drained a three-pointer to eclipse 20 points and put her team in front, 67-66 with 6:32 to go.
 
Following a JMU three-pointer, Johnson delivered a jump shot that evened the score, 69-69. The Dukes scored four unanswered and seized a four-point lead with less than five minutes in the fourth quarter. Lauren Gross knocked down a triple to bring ULM within one point of the Dukes at the 4:08 mark. The Dukes inched ahead by five points with under three minutes to go. ULM forced a JMU turnover and capitalized on the ensuing possession when Bradford found Wells for a three to cut the JMU lead to one possession with 2:24 on the clock. The Dukes went back up by six with less than a minute remaining thanks to two buckets by Hazell. Bradford brought ULM within four points after a jump shot with 42 remaining. The Warhawks got a stop on the defensive end and had an opportunity to trim JMU's lead to one possession. The Dukes forced a ULM turnover with 21 seconds to go and sank four free throws down the stretch to seal an 85-79 win in the conference opener.
 
The ULM women's basketball team begins a two-game road stretch in Georgia on Thursday (Jan. 4) at Georgia State. Tipoff from Atlanta is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST/5:30 p.m. CST.