MONROE, La. – The ULM women's basketball team (9-11, 5-4 Sun Belt) thwarted the South Alabama Jaguars (4-16, 0-9 Sun Belt) at home on Thursday (Jan. 30) night, 78-70. The game remained close until the end, with 14 lead changes throughout the contest.
 
Jakayla Johnson led the team with a season-high 28 points, also posting eight rebounds, three assists and a steal. Brikayla Gray put up 14 points with seven rebounds and a career-high five steals on the night. Nya Valentine rounded out the double-digit scorers, with 12 points, four rebounds, an assist and a block. 
 
To open the scoring, Johnson picked the pocket of the Jaguars and got ULM to an early start. South Alabama also got hot early, hitting a shot beyond the arc to open their scoring. Both teams battled back and forth until the Warhawks closed out the quarter shooting 4-5 from the field. Johnson also put up a buzzer-beating three to close out the quarter on top. Two triples for the Jaguars got them back in business, ready to fight for a win. A scoring drought for ULM and a South Alabama 9-0 run got the Jaguars their largest lead of the night with six. Johnson hit another triple to break the drought, ending the half on a 10-0 run for ULM, 41-37.
 
Valentine got in on the action in the second half, with two triples in the third quarter to keep the Warhawks ahead. A 7-0 run for the Jaguars kept them in action, but a three-point play by Sakyia White showed the grit ULM was putting into the game. With South Alabama closing the quarter shooting 6-7, the quarter ended with a one-point lead for the Warhawks. The fourth quarter was a battle for both teams, as they continued to trade leads back and forth. An 8-0 run by ULM and six turnovers committed by South Alabama gave the Warhawks the edge for their second-consecutive Sun Belt win.
 
"I'm proud of our bunch, we had to gut it out," said head coach Missy Bilderback. "I'm really proud of our team, it's a great win."
 
The Warhawks will remain home for the second in a three-game homestand, taking on the Texas State Bobcats on Saturday (Feb. 1). Tip-off at Fant-Ewing Coliseum is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT for Saturday's Play4Kay game.