MONROE, La. – The ULM women's basketball team (3-1) fell to No. 22 Alabama (6-0), 75-52, on Sunday afternoon. A tough 16-2 scoring run in the second quarter left the Warhawks in a fight from behind for the majority of the game.
The Crimson Tide led in field goal percentage, shooting 45% to the Warhawks' 31%. Both teams struggled from beyond the arc, Alabama shooting 4-26 while ULM went 1-11. Both teams tied with 40 rebounds apiece as well. Another notable score would be the 46 points that Alabama scored in the paint, compared to the Warhawks' 20.
Katlyn Manuel led the team with 16 points, her first game leading the team in scoring since Nov. 18, 2023 at McNeese. She also posted seven rebounds, one steal and an assist.
Sakyia White also scored in the double-digits, posting 12 points, five rebounds, one block and an assist.
Laila Walker led the team in rebounds, posting eight, along with three points.
An opening three-pointer by Sarah Ashlee Barker opened the scoring for the Crimson Tide, leaving the Warhawks in catch-up mode.
Jakayla Johnson and White fought to keep ULM in the conversation, remaining within two early on. A second-chance layup by
Katlyn Manuel gave the Warhawks their first lead of the day. A late 6-0 run by the Crimson Tide, however, thwarted the attempt and ended the first quarter, 23-18.
Alabama opened the second quarter with another three-pointer, making three in the first half to ULM's none. The Warhawks went through a scoring drought throughout the second quarter, the Crimson Tide shutting down a comeback attempt by going on a 16-2 run to wrap up the first half, 46-22.
The third quarter brought Manuel a majority of points, bringing the lead down to 18 with 3:30 remaining. While the Warhawks trailed, they outscored the Crimson Tide, 17-13. White brought three back-to-back scores for ULM to end the third quarter, 59-39.
The fourth quarter brought a potential comeback for ULM, as they went on a run to bring Alabama's lead down to 13.
Nya Valentine made the team's lone three-pointer with 6:40 remaining. As the potential for a comeback began looming, the Crimson Tide went on a 9-0 run to shut it down. The Warhawks never stopped fighting,
Cianté Downs scoring in the final second of the game. But Alabama still claimed the win, 75-52.
Up next, the women's basketball team will be hitting the road to compete in their first tournament of the season, the Bank of Hawaii Classic, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Warhawks will face Hawaii on Nov. 22 at 3 p.m. CST and Saint Mary's on Nov. 24 at 4 p.m.
