PENSACOLA, Fla. – The ULM Warhawks (15-15, 7-11 Sun Belt) defeated the Ragin' Cajuns of Lafayette (5-26, 2-16 Sun Belt) in a handy 79-63 second round game, the Warhawks advancing to the third round. Shooting 47% and notching six triples had ULM ahead the entire game. ULM now claims its second Sun Belt Tournament win since 2013, claiming a clean 3-0 sweep of the Ragin' Cajuns. 
 
Four different Warhawks crossed double figures scoring, Marcavia Shavers recording her 11^th double-double of the season with 21 points and 13 boards. Shavers led all scorers in the game as the only players from either team to break 20 points. Jazmine Jackson drilled four triples, including a span of three in a row, to collect 17 points. J'Mani Ingram and Keshunti Nichols also scored in double digits, Ingram at 16 points and Nichols picking up 12. 
 
The Warhawks opened on a high note, as Marissa Gasaway recorded a steal, getting the ball to Marcavia Shavers for the opening score. Continuing to force turnovers and misses for the Cajuns, Nakiyah Mays-Prince dropped a triple to make it a 7-0 lead two minutes into the game. After Lafayette got on the board with a Mikaylah Manley jumper, Keshunti Nichols drove a 6-0 scoring run as the Warhawks got ahead by double digits. Even as the Ragin' Cajuns were able to find scores, ULM remained ahead, Shavers collecting a layup at the buzzer for the 17-7 score after one quarter.
 
While Lafayette notched a score as the second quarter started, Jazmine Jackson hit three back-to-back three-pointers to give ULM the 17-point lead with 7:55 remaining in the half. A 22-2 run for the Warhawks allowed for Katelyn Chomko to get in on the action, drilling a triple herself. But as the minutes ran down, the Cajuns brought their scoring drought, scoring 10 answered points as they refused to back down. With both teams battling, the half concluded with ULM ahead, 41-21.
 
Both teams began trading shots in the third, Amijah Price dropping a three-pointer to prevent the score from getting out of hand. In a third-quarter slide from the Warhawks, the Cajuns outscored ULM 23-22 in the third as hope prevailed. Three turnovers further gave Lafayette hope, as seven unanswered points closed the gap to 16. But the Warhawks were not finished yet, Ingram and Jackson adding to the tally as the third quarter closed with a score of 63-44.
 
The Cajuns came in with a vengeance in the fourth quarter, a quick nine points on the tally. A 90-second span without a score from either team allowed for ULM to reconvene and swing the momentum back in its favor. As Lafayette tried to respond to every shot for the Warhawks, the early deficit prevented a comeback. Free throws kept the Warhawks up as they continued on to a 79-63 victory.
 
The Warhawks will now compete in a rematch of their regular season finale, facing the 8-seeded Southern Miss Golden Eagles. The third round game in Pensacola will begin at 2 p.m. on Thursday (March 5).