MONROE, La. – The ULM women's basketball team (2-0) remains undefeated at the start of the season after a late morning matchup against the Louisiana Christian Wildcats (0-2). The last time the Warhawks opened the season 2-0 was the 2007-08 season, when they went 17-13 on the season. 4,509 fans packed into Fant-Ewing Coliseum for Lil Warhawk Day, the largest crowd at a ULM women's basketball game since 1986, ranking eighth all-time.
ULM held the Wildcats to no 3-pointers and shooting 31% from the field. The Warhawks also struggled from three, making four of 25 attempts and shooting 27-71 on the day. Louisiana Christian shot 83% from the free throw line, with the Warhawks shooting 64%. The Wildcats also led in second chance points, 17-11. The Warhawks led the charge with 20 points off turnovers, 19 fast break points and 45 rebounds.
Jakayla Johnson led the team with 21 points, her second-straight game in double-digits.
Meloney Thames led with two three-pointers, collecting 11 points, two rebounds and a career-high four assists.
Laila Walker also claimed her first double-double of her career, as well as the team's first double-double of the season, tallying 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The first quarter remained evenly matched between the Warhawks and the Wildcats, an early three-pointer from Johnson opening the lead for ULM. After seven lead changes in the first 10 minutes, two layups in the final 20 seconds gave the Warhawks the edge, 18-14 to close out the first quarter.
The Warhawks remained in control for the second half, maintaining the lead for the full 10 minutes. Three layups in a row from Johnson extended the lead to 12 points. In the final seconds of the half,
Sakyia White made her return on the court, drilling to the basket to give ULM a 10-point lead going into the half, 41-31.
Thames and White maintained the lead for ULM, opening the quarter with two back-to-back jumpers. A scoring drought for both teams ran for over two minutes on the back end of the quarter, neither team able to get a shot up. The Warhawks closed the third quarter with a 4-0 run to make it 55-37.
The Wildcats refused to back down in the final 10 minutes, going on a 6-2 run to open the fourth quarter. Eventually the lead was cut down to 12, but the Warhawks still had enough fight in them to increase the lead to 19 in the final minutes.
Up next, the Warhawks are traveling for their first road test of the season, taking on Southern Illinois on Wednesday. Tip-off in Carbondale is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
