JONESBORO, Ark. – The ULM women's basketball team (7-10, 3-3 Sun Belt) will remain on the road for the second in a four-game road trip, traveling to Jonesboro, Ark. The Warhawks will face the Arkansas State Red Wolves (9-7, 5-1 Sun Belt) for the second time this season at noon on Saturday (Jan. 18) in First National Bank Arena. The Warhawks are looking to build off a road win over Southern Miss, while Arkansas State is looking to continue their five-game winning streak.
SERIES HISTORY –
The Warhawks and the Red Wolves will be competing for the 56th time in the series and the second time in a week. Arkansas State is looking to sweep ULM after getting swept in the 2023-24 season. The first matchup between ULM and Arkansas State was on Jan. 17, 1983 in Monroe. The Warhawks won in Jonesboro last season for the first time since 2011, looking to build a win streak at Arkansas State. The most recent matchup for the two teams was one week ago, when the Red Wolves broke a two-game losing streak against the Warhawks, beating them 70-75 in Monroe.
SCOUTING THE RED WOLVES –
The Red Wolves are looking to continue a five-game win streak, most recently recording an overtime win over the Ragin' Cajuns. Kyanna Morgan leads the team in points per game (9.7) and Kennedie Montue leads in field goal percentage (.481) and three-point percentage (.420). Montue also hit the game-winning triple to put the Red Wolves on top over the Ragin' Cajuns. Sophomore Crislyn Rose dropped 33 points against Arizona State (Nov. 8), and was awarded Sun Belt Player of the Week for the stand-out performance. The Red Wolves are looking to surpass preseason expectations, as they were selected to finish 13th in the preseason coaches poll after a 13-17 record last season, falling to the Ragin' Cajuns in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament.
LEADING THE TEAM –
Jakayla Johnson led the team with 22 points, six rebounds and three steals in last week's game versus Arkansas State (Jan. 11). She currently leads the team in points per game (14.9), field goals made (91), assists (54) and steals (29). Johnson leads the Sun Belt in free throw percentage (.855), is third in points per game and fourth in field goal percentage (.440). The senior guard has scored in double figures in nine straight games.
Sakyia White opened the season going 9-9 vs. Central Baptist (Nov. 4), dropping 18 points and leading the team in field goal percentage (.500). She then followed up with a 16-rebound performance vs. Tulane (Dec. 21) and a 14-rebound showing versus Arkansas State (Jan. 11), leading the team in rebounds per game (7.8) and third in the Sun Belt.
IN OUR BILDERBACK ERA–
In her second season as head coach, Missy Bilderback posts winning records against five Sun Belt teams, including three undefeated records. Bilderback is 1-0 against Georgia Southern, 2-0 against South Alabama and a whopping 5-0 against Southern Miss, most recently winning in Hattiesburg on January 16. The Warhawks are 2-1 against Arkansas State in the Bilderback era, sweeping the Red Wolves last season.
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 –
Saturday'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 remain on the road to take on the South Alabama Jaguars on Wednesday (Jan. 22). The Warhawks will tip off against the Jaguars at 7 p.m. CT in Mobile, Ala.
