CARBONDALE, Ill. – The ULM women's basketball team (3-0) remains undefeated at the start of the season after a late comeback took down Southern Illinois (0-3). The last time the Warhawks opened the season 3-0 was the 2007-08 season, when they went 17-13 on the season.
ULM went on a 19-2 run to finish the game, holding the Salukis to seven turnovers in the final six minutes. While Southern Illinois shot 53% from beyond the arc, the Warhawks scored 29 points off turnovers and boasted 48 rebounds to the Salukis' 28.
Meloney Thames led the team with 27 points, including a trio of three-pointers, beating her career-high of 17 points.
Sakyia White posted 14 rebounds and seven points on the night, her first double-digit rebound game of her career.
Cianté Downs led with six steals, posting an assist, three rebounds and 11 points. To round out the double-digit scorers,
Jakayla Johnson had 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
The Warhawks and the Salukis started off neck-in-neck, both scoring in the first minute of play. Even as both teams put on the pressure, Southern Illinois maintained the lead for the first five minutes. A three-pointer by Thames gave ULM the biggest lead of the night, allowing the Warhawks to go on an 11-2 tear to end the quarter, 19-11.
ULM worked to maintain their lead as Southern Illinois clawed their way back.
Brikayla Gray scored off a Saluki turnover in a 6-0 run that gave the Warhawks the largest lead of the night. While Southern Illinois tried to whittle down the lead, the half ended with ULM ahead, 31-26.
Southern Illinois held the Warhawks without a field goal for the opening two minutes of the half, allowing the Salukis to get within one. Second-chance opportunities by White and
Laila Walker brought the lead for ULM to 10, shutting down a comeback for SIU for most of the quarter. To end the quarter, the Salukis went on a 6-2 run to begin a comeback, 55-54.
The Salukis maintained their momentum in the opening of the fourth quarter, pulling away from the Warhawks with the lead. Another three-pointer from Thames shut down the comeback attempt from SIU. The 19-point tear in the final minutes of the game solidified the victory for ULM.
Up next, the Warhawks are hosting No. 22 Alabama at Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Sunday (Nov. 17). The Crimson Tide is the first Power 4 team to come to Monroe since 2007. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
