MONROE, La. – The ULM women's basketball team (9-12, 5-5 Sun Belt) remains home for the final in a three-game homestand, facing the App State Mountaineers (12-9, 8-3 Sun Belt). Tip-off in Fant-Ewing Coliseum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 5). Both teams are looking to bounce back from Sun Belt losses at home.
SERIES HISTORY –
The Warhawks and the Mountaineers will be competing for the 15th time in the series, ULM looking to beat App State for the first time in program history. The first matchup between ULM and App State was on Dec. 22, 1996 in Tampa, Fla., a 47-52 Mountaineer win. App State has not made the journey to Monroe since 2018, where Warhawks fell 58-80 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The most recent matchup for the two teams was Feb. 7, 2024, when the Warhawks fell to App State 71-78 in Boone, N.C.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS –
The Mountaineers are looking to come back from a home conference loss, falling to Georgia State, 55-62. Zada Porterleads the team in points per game (10.8) and defensive rebounds (73). Mara Neira is also getting attention as the 'Neers top scorer in three games, most recently posting 15 points (5-12 from three) versus Georgia State. App State is looking to surpass preseason expectations under first-year head coach Alaura Sharp, as they were selected to finish 11th in the preseason coaches poll after a 17-15 conference record last season, falling to Marshall in the second round of the Sun Belt Tournament.
LEADING THE TEAM –
Jakayla Johnson currently leads the team in points per game (14.9), three-point percentage (.341), assists (66) and steals (36). Johnson is second in the Sun Belt in free throw percentage (.848), is third in points per game and seventh in field goal percentage (.408).
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 (7.7) and sixth in the Sun Belt. White also led the team with 13 points versus Texas State (Feb. 1), her third game this season leading the team in scoring.
RAINING TRIPLES –
In conference play, the Warhawks are second in the Sun Belt in three-point field goal percentage (.349), behind App State. Meloney Thames dropped 22 points against Georgia Southern (Jan. 2), shooting five three-pointers, a team-high this season. The last time a Warhawk hit five triples prior to Thames was Jakayla Johnson versus Georgia Southern in the Sun Belt Tournament last season. Just two days later, Nya Valentine hit five shots beyond the arc against Old Dominion, three coming in the final 30 seconds of the game. Valentine went on to go 3-3 from beyond the arc versus Texas State (Feb. 1).
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.
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+, with Sean Fox and Mike Vining calling the game. 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 hit the road to take on the South Alabama Jaguars on Saturday (Feb. 8), a rescheduled game due to winter weather earlier in the season. The Warhawks will tip off against the Jaguars at 2 p.m. CT.
