MONROE, La. – Jakayla Johnson earned her third 20-point game in a ULM uniform and Katlyn Manuel recorded her second double-double as the ULM women’s basketball team (11-5, 3-2 Sun Belt Conference) utilized a strong start to defeat Texas State (10-7, 1-4) 73-63 on Saturday (Jan. 13) inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum in Monroe, La.
ULM extended its winning streak to two and captured its first weekend SBC sweep since the 2016 season.
Johnson was two rebounds shy of a double-double and dished out seven assists to go along with one steal. Manuel came off the bench and delivered 18 points and 10 rebounds and added a pair of blocks. Lauren Gross extended her streak of hitting multiple three-point baskets to four games and drilled five shots from long distance for 15 points. Daisha Bradford accounted for seven of the Warhawks’ 19 assists and registered nine points, six boards and one steal. Brianna Harris scored seven points and added eight boards and two steals, assists and blocks apiece.
The Warhawks shot 44.3% from the field and 31.3% from three-point distance. ULM held the Bobcats to five 3-pointers and 33.9% shooting for the game. The Warhawks won the rebounding battle by nine boards and collected 14 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points.
Johnson directed a pass to Harris on the first possession of the game for a ULM 3-pointer. Harris connected on a jumper to put the Warhawks ahead, 5-1 at the 8:11 mark. After a Texas State bucket, the Warhawks put together a 16-0 scoring run and opened up a 21-3 lead. Gross kickstarted the run with a 3-pointer on a fastbreak assisted by Bradford. Harris capitalized on an offensive rebound and scored her seventh point of the quarter. Gross and Johnson continued the scoring spree with triples on consecutive possessions and the Warhawks led by 13. A block by Manuel led to a Johnson layup and a foul for a three-point play. Bradford completed the run off an offensive rebound from Johnson. The Warhawks held a 12-point lead at the end of one quarter.
The Bobcats trimmed ULM’s lead to nine points early in the second period. Bradford put ULM back in front by double digits following her first triple of the afternoon and a put-back layup. Gross sank a pair of deep threes and ULM led by 16 with 4:24 in the half. Two free throws by Johnson and a layup by Manuel gave ULM its largest lead of the day at 46-25. ULM led 49-32 at the break.
Texas State rallied and outscored ULM 13-2 to begin the second half. Manuel converted two free throws to put the Warhawks up, 53-45 with just over four minutes in the third quarter. Gross delivered her fifth make from beyond the arc to pull ULM back ahead by double digits at the 3:10 mark. A layup by Manuel and Johnson went coast to coast on a steal and score and the Warhawks held a 60-47 edge at the end of the third.
Manuel poured in a pair of layups at the start of the fourth that pushed the Warhawks’ lead to 17. A triple by Johnson and a fastbreak layup by Manuel from a Harris block gave ULM a 19-point cushion and forced a Texas State timeout. The Bobcats cut ULM’s lead to 10 with 2:25 left. The Warhawks managed to hold off Texas State in the final minutes and won their second-consecutive home conference game, 73-63.
ULM women’s basketball will hit the road on Thursday (Jan. 18) for its first matchup of the season at the Ragin’ Cajuns. The game is set to begin at 6 p.m. from the Cajundome.
