NEW ORLEANS – The ULM women's basketball team (4-6) beat Central Arkansas (6-3) to snap a six-game losing streak at the Tulane Holiday Tournament. The Warhawks shot 40% from beyond the arc to claim the victory over the Sugar Bears, their first win in the series.
 
ULM shot a season-best 40% from three, tallying eight between three different players. The Warhawks also held the Sugar Bears to 20% shooting beyond the arc, picking up 30 defensive rebounds. ULM outrebounded Central Arkansas 43-31 and scored 25 points off turnovers, changing the game from a tight contest in the first half to a double-digit lead in the second.
 
Meloney Thames led the team with 17 points, making a trio of three-pointers and leading with five assists as well. Sakyia White led with nine rebounds, also putting up four points, two assists and a steal. Katlyn Manuel led with two blocks, putting up 12 points for her second double-digit showing of the season. Jakayla Johnson led with three steals, posting 12 points and two rebounds as well. Brikayla Gray also scored in double-digits, posting 11 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a steal.
 
Thames opened up the scoring for the Warhawks, getting ULM to a 6-0 lead in the first minute of the contest. The Sugar Bears quickly bounced back, however, to tie the score, 11-11 halfway through the quarter. A three-point jumper by Nya Valentine gave ULM the lead yet again, but Central Arkansas continued to fight back, giving the Sugar Bears the one-point lead at the conclusion of the first 10 minutes.
 
Manuel dropped six points to keep the Warhawks within sight of the lead. A scoring drought by Central Arkansas had ULM leading by four halfway through the quarter, 25-21. A returned scoring drought for the Warhawks gave the Sugar Bears the opportunity to come back, trading one-point leads with ULM into the half ended with Central Arkansas ahead, 30-29.
 
Manuel opened the scoring for the Warhawks in the second half, putting the Sugar Bears in another scoring drought. Thames dropped back-to-back three-pointers to get the biggest lead of the afternoon for ULM, 39-30. Three-pointers from Valentine and Johnson helped ULM to outscore Central Arkansas 20-8 in the third. 
 
ULM worked to build off the commanding third quarter, getting the lead to 18 with the help of Johnson and Gray. Four rebounds from White also gave the Warhawks the edge, with four second-chance points and nine points off turnovers. A last-minute score by Central Arkansas would not change the outcome, with ULM walking away with the win, 65-49.
 
The Warhawks continue tournament play at Tulane, taking on the winner of the contest between Tulane and Alabama A&M today. Tipoff tomorrow (Dec. 21) for ULM is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT.