NEW ORLEANS – The ULM women's basketball team (4-7) dropped the final game of the Tulane Holiday Tournament to host Tulane (7-4), going 1-1 on the weekend. The Warhawks were looking to end the weekend perfect after beating Central Arkansas, but a late energy surge by the Green Wave sent them on top.
The Warhawks started strong from beyond the arc, but ended by shooting 22% from three and 39% from the field to Tulane's 43%. The Green Wave also shot 53% from beyond the arc, putting them ahead in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Both teams remained close in rebounding, Tulane outrebounding ULM 43-41. The Green Wave also had 40 points in the paint to the Warhawks' 28.
Jakayla Johnson led the team with 17 for her ninth double-figure score of the season.
Sakyia White led with a whopping 16 rebounds, a career high and team high. White also tallied 11 points, giving her a double-double, the ninth of her career and first at ULM.
Katlyn Manuel also ended in double-digits, scoring 13 points and tallying five rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal.
The Warhawks opened with an early 8-0 run, making it difficult for the Green Wave to keep up. Two three-pointers by Tulane brought them within two of ULM, but a scoop and score by
Brikayla Gray gave the Warhawks the edge to end the quarter on a 7-0 run. Seven boards in the quarter from White also assisted in the 24-16 lead.
While the Green Wave battled to remain in the contest, a four-minute scoring drought helped the Warhawks maintain their lead. A three-point play by Tulane's Amira Mabry and a scoring drought for ULM gave the Green Wave the opportunity to outscore ULM in the quarter and get within three at the half, 34-37.
An 10-0 run by Tulane to open the second half led to the first lead for the Green Wave of the contest. The run held the Warhawks on a four-minute scoring drought, until broken by
Cianté Downs. The broken drought by the Warhawks got them within one halfway through the quarter, White drawing a foul for a three-point play and the lead. ULM was able to maintain the lead to finish out the quarter, 53-48.
The Warhawks continued to battle to maintain the lead, holding the Green Wave to just two points in the first four minutes. Johnson was able to break through for the score to give ULM the largest lead of the day with nine. Fouls from the Warhawks gave the Green Wave the chance to tie it up in the final two minutes. Tulane captured the lead in the final 30 seconds, with ULM unable to regain the lead, falling 68-63 and going 1-1 at the Tulane Holiday Tournament.
The Warhawks open conference play on the road following the holidays, taking on Coastal Carolina in their conference opener. ULM will tip off against the Chanticleers at noon on Dec. 29.
