CONWAY, S.C. – The ULM women's basketball team (4-8) dropped their first Sun Belt game versus Coastal Carolina (10-1), opening conference play 0-1. The Warhawks maintained the lead for 28 minutes before the Chanticleers claimed the victory in the fourth quarter.
 
ULM shot 35% from the field and 27% from beyond the arc, with the Chanticleers shooting 31% and 21%, respectively. The Warhawks also outrebounded Coastal Carolina, 48-41, claiming 19 second chance points. 
 
Katlyn Manuel led the team with 17 points, also claiming a double-double with 11 rebounds. Jakayla Johnson tallied 13 points, three rebounds, six assists and a steal on the day. Cianté Downs logged 11 points, two assists, a steal and a rebound. 
 
The first quarter was a close contest, with both teams opening the scoring early on. Back-to-back layups by Manuel gave ULM the one-point advantage after four minutes. A few defensive rebounds maintained the lead for the Warhawks, with Johnson extending the lead to three at the end of the quarter, 12-9. 
 
The lead set by ULM was maintained early in the second quarter, extending it to six with 8:29 left. The Chanticleers attempted to come back from an early deficit, cutting it down to two. A scoring run by Coastal Carolina have the team an opportunity to bounce back, regaining a lead for the first time since the first quarter. It was a gritty end to the first half, as both teams exchanged leads until Coastal was able to capitalize off a five-minute scoring drought by ULM, leading 28-25 at the half.
 
A three-point shot by Johnson got the Warhawks back in the groove, with Meloney Thames scoring her first points of the contest beyond the arc right after. Thames extended the lead with a second three-pointer, 37-34 with 4:50 remaining in the quarter. 10 defensive rebounds in the quarter sent the Chanticleers into a three-minute scoring drought. Nya Valentine also got in on the three-point action, extending the lead for the Warhawks to eight, 46-38.
 
The fourth quarter opened with scoring from both teams, ULM extending their lead to 10, the largest lead of the night with 8:33 remaining. Manuel's 10^th rebound gave her a double-double on the day, her first of the season and the team's third. The Chanticleers worked to close the gap, but the Warhawks would not let up, dominating in the paint. A scoring drought and 6-0 run for the Chanticleers brought them the lead in the final seconds, winning 63-61.
 
The Warhawks return home after another long stretch on the road, taking 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.