SAN MARCOS, Texas – The ULM women's basketball team (7-11, 3-4 Sun Belt) will remain on the road for the final in a three-game road trip, traveling to San Marcos, Texas. The Warhawks will face the Texas State Bobcats (9-9, 3-5 Sun Belt) at 2 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 25) in Strahan Arena at the University Events Center. Both teams are looking to bounce back from Sun Belt losses.
SERIES HISTORY –
The Warhawks and the Bobcats will be competing for the 66th time in the series, ULM looking to break a losing streak against Texas State. The first matchup between ULM and Texas State was on Feb. 6, 1988 in San Marcos, Texas, a 101-79 Warhawk win. The Warhawks won last season for the first time in the series since 2020, before splitting the 2024 series 1-1 with the Bobcats. The most recent matchup for the two teams was March 1, 2024, when the Bobcats beat ULM 73-76 in San Marcos.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS –
The Bobcats are looking to come back from a double-digit home loss to Troy, 105-58. Jaylin Foster leads the team in points per game (10.1) and rebounds per game (6.9). The senior forward reached her 1,000th career point in Thursday's game against Troy. Texas State is looking to surpass preseason expectations, as they were selected to finish 10th in the preseason coaches poll after a 4-14 conference record last season, falling to Georgia Southern in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament.
LEADING THE TEAM –
Jakayla Johnson currently leads the team in points per game (14.2), field goals made (91), assists (57) and steals (30). Johnson leads the Sun Belt in free throw percentage (.860), is sixth in points per game and field goal percentage (.416).
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 (7.9) and fourth in the Sun Belt.
RAINING TRIPLES –
Meloney Thames dropped 17 points at Arkansas State (Jan. 18), shooting five three-pointers in the second half, a team-high this season. This is the third time five triples have been hit by a Warhawk this season, the second time for Thames. The junior guard hit five shots beyond the arc to contribute to her 22 points against Georgia Southern (Jan. 2). Just two days later, Nya Valentine hit five threes against Old Dominion (Jan. 4), three coming in the final 30 seconds of the game.
50 YEARS OF ULM WOMEN'S BASKETBALL –
The 2024-25 season marks 50 years of ULM Women's Basketball, after the team was developed in 1974. Under head coaches Cherrie Walker and Tanya Ganey, the inaugural ULM women's basketball team posted a 9-11 record in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). The first-ever win for the team came over Louisiana Tech, 84-78. In the last 50 years, the women's basketball team has posted 23 winning seasons, 10 head coaches, five conference titles, four trips to the NCAA Tournament, two WNIT appearances, two Naismith Award finalists and a Final Four run.
The 2024-25 season also marks the 40th anniversary of ULM women's basketball's Final Four run during the 1984-85 season. The 1984-85 Warhawks posted a 30-2 record, the best record in the nation, under head coach Linda Harper. They also went 12-0 in the Southland Conference, with a final AP ranking of No. 2. The Final Four is the farthest any ULM basketball (men's or women's) team has advanced in the NCAA Tournament. Harper was named Southland Coach of the Year, with Eun Jung Lee awarded Player of the Year and Chana Perry named Newcomer of the Year.
Both anniversaries will be honored on Feb. 22 versus the Ragin' Cajuns at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
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 return home to take on the South Alabama Jaguars on Thursday (Jan. 30). The Warhawks will tip off against the Jaguars at 6:30 p.m. CT in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
