HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The ULM women's basketball team (7-10, 3-3 Sun Belt) is now .500 in Sun Belt play, beating the Southern Miss Lady Eagles (5-12, 1-5 Sun Belt) on Thursday night. The Warhawks have now swept the Lady Eagles for the second-straight season, going 5-0 in the Bilderback era.
 
Meloney Thames led the team with 20 points, her fourth game posting 20+ points this season. She also led the team with nine rebounds, a career-high. Sakyia White held her own defensively, recording two blocks against Southern Miss' Melyia Grayson. White posted 14 points and five rebounds, her fourth-straight game scoring double figures. Jakayla Johnson is on a streak of her own, 11 points getting her a ninth-straight game in double-figures, tallying three rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. Cianté Downs led the team with six assists, a career-high for the senior guard.
 
Southern Miss started off the scoring in the contest, but the shots weren't falling for either team, as they went multiple minutes with a 2-2 tie. Katlyn Manuel opened the scoring for the Warhawks, with three turnovers for the Lady Eagles allowing ULM to take the early lead. With two 7-0 runs in the first 10 minutes and Thames shooting multiple triples, the Warhawks were able to close the first quarter ahead, 18-11.
 
Thames continued to remain hot in the second quarter, hitting a few jumpers to maintain the lead. Southern Miss attempted to get hot beyond the arc, cutting the lead down to four, but a three-minute scoring drought kept the Warhawks ahead. A second-chance shot by Laila Walker pushed the momentum for ULM, ending the half 32-24.
 
The second half opened with a scoring drought from both teams. Johnson got the Warhawks back in the groove, continuing with the lead. A steal and score from White also contributed, but a 6-0 run for the Lady Eagles cut the lead to three. Southern Miss shot 8-8 in the comeback attempt, with a Trinity Rowe three-pointer cutting the lead to one, 46-45.
 
Early in the fourth quarter, Southern Miss hit a triple and found their first lead of the night. Blocks by Manuel and White thwarted Lady Eagles, bringing the lead back to the Warhawks. ULM went on a 9-0 run to return from the brink and complete the game, 67-55.
 
The Warhawks remain on the road for the to take on Arkansas State for the second time in a week in Jonesboro, Ark. Tip-off on Saturday (Jan. 18) is scheduled for noon CT.