CONWAY, S.C. – The ULM women's basketball team (4-7) will be traveling to Conway, S.C. for its first Sun Belt game of the season. The Warhawks will face the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (9-1) at noon CT/1 p.m. ET on Sunday (Dec. 29) to open conference play.
SERIES HISTORY –
The Chanticleers and the Warhawks are playing for the eighth time in the series, their last matchup coming in Monroe on Jan. 17, 2024, a 71-68 win. The first meeting in the series was Feb. 23, 2017, when the Chanticleers beat the Warhawks in Conway, 75-48 in Coastal Carolina's first season in the Sun Belt. The Warhawks are on a two-game win streak against the Chanticleers, dating back to 2023.
SCOUTING THE CHANTICLEERS –
The Chanticleers are looking to extend a five-game win streak in a holiday home stretch in Conway. Most recently, Coastal Carolina claimed a victory over South Carolina State, 104-58. The team also marked wins over UNCW and Jacksonville State. The lone loss of the season comes from ACC opponent NC State, falling 68-89. Savannah Brooksleads the team in points per game (16.4), second in the Sun Belt in scoring and field goal percentage (.520). Alancia Ramsey averages 9.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team. Coastal Carolina was selected to finish ninth in the preseason coaches poll after a 12-21 record last season, falling to Southern Miss in the second round of the Sun Belt Championships.
LEADING THE TEAM –
Jakayla Johnson led the team with a 17-point game, three assists and three steals against Tulane on Dec. 21. She now leads the team in points per game (14.5), field goals made (59) and steals (22). Johnson is also fourth in the Sun Belt in points per game. Sakyia White opened the season going 9-9 vs. Central Baptist (Nov. 4), dropping 18 points and leading the team in the home opener, leading the team with a .507 field goal percentage.
DOUBLE DOUBLE–
Laila Walker logged the team's first double-double of the season against Louisiana Christian (Nov. 11), posting 10 points and 11 rebounds. The achievement was also Walker's first career double-double. Sakyia White followed Walker with the team's second double-double, posting 11 points and a career-high 16 rebounds at Tulane (Dec. 21).
CONFERENCE OPENER –
The Warhawks have gone 5-13 in Sun Belt openers since 2006, opening conference play on the road for the first time since the 2020-21 season. The most recent Sun-Belt-opening win was exactly two years prior, when ULM beat Arkansas State, 81-66, in 2022.
PRESEASON HONORS –
Jakayla Johnson was named All-Sun Belt First Team after receiving multiple honors at the conclusion of last season. She was the second leading scorer on the Warhawks, averaging 15.2 points per game. She reached the 30-point mark in two games last season as well. This is ULM's first player to be named to the All-Sun Belt First Team since 2006, when the Warhawks joined the conference.
Katlyn Manuel, the conference's reigning Sixth Woman of the Year, was named All-Sun Belt Third Team to open the 2024-25 season. In her third year with the Warhawks, Manuel averaged 10.2 points/game, racking up three double-doubles. She also led the team with 30 blocks on the season, averaging 1.0 per game.
FOURTH-PLACE PICK –
The Warhawks started the preseason strong, being selected fourth in the Sun Belt preseason coaches poll, receiving 150 votes. This is the highest ULM women's basketball has been ranked in the SBC preseason poll since joining the conference in 2006.
FOLLOW THE WARHAWKS –
Sunday's game will be available on KMLB 105.7 FM/540 AM with Adam Holland on the call. Streaming will be available for games on ESPN+. Links to live stats for all games, when available, can be found at ULMWarhawks.com. Navigate to the women's basketball schedule page and select that day's opponent.
LOOKING AHEAD –
The women's basketball team will return home after another long stretch on the road. ULM will take on Georgia Southern to ring in the new year on Jan. 2. The Warhawks and the Eagles will tip off at 6:30 p.m. CT in Fant-Ewing Coliseum for the home conference opener.
