ATHENS, Ohio – The ULM women's basketball team (0-1, 0-0 SBC) fell 57-46 to Ohio (1-0, 0-0 MAC) in the MAC-SBC Challenge season opener on the road. The Warhawks were plagued by turnovers, committing 28, and shot just 27% from the field.
Fifth-year guard Kylee Hunt and fourth-year guards Nevaeh Scott and Kayla Lindsey led ULM with nine points apiece in the low-scoring matchup. The Warhawks rebounded by committee as well, with Lindsey, Roge'Ne' Hillard and Amani Williams each recording a team-leading five.
Defense was at the forefront of the matchup for the Warhawks, earning 10 steals, with a team-high four from Hunt. However, ULM struggled to get its shots to fall, as the Warhawks scored just 21 times on 71 possessions. ULM led 4-3 in the first quarter did not lead again.
Both teams battled through the first ten minutes to establish themselves, and both struggled to keep possession. ULM made 10 turnovers in the first quarter, but forced eight from Ohio. The score was 7-6 Bobcats just over six minutes into the game, but Ohio jumped out to an eight-point lead after a 7-0 run in the final minute of the first quarter.
Kylee Hunt opened the second quarter with a three-pointer to cut the deficit to five points, but Ohio responded with five points to extend the lead to double figures. The Warhawks went scoreless for almost three minutes, but another three by Hunt closed the gap once again. Aiyanna Culver made her first from behind the arc with ten seconds left in the half to make it 26-19 Bobcats heading into the locker room.
Kayla Lindsey drove to the basket to open the second half and made it a five-point lead for Ohio, but the Bobcats responded once again, building their ten-point lead back. Long scoring droughts followed both teams throughout the third, until the Warhawks put up seven points in the final minute and a half of the quarter, but the Bobcats scored eight of their own in the same period. The deficit was 12 for ULM heading into the final quarter.
The Warhawks managed to get the gap from double digits to just eight points, but were held scoreless from the field for the game's final 5 minutes and 14 seconds from the field.
Ohio's Monica Williams led the Bobcats with 19 points, three rebounds and three assists.
ULM will take on Centenary on Thursday evening at 6:30 for the home-opener in b1Bank Fant Coliseum.
