FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The ULM women's basketball team put up a fight to start the Missy Bilderback era, but it came up just short with an 81-76 loss Tuesday night to Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena.
Coming off a 2022-2023 season which resulted in a 7-23 overall record, the Warhawks (0-1 overall) showed a new look with their new head coach and numerous transfers, including three from the Power 5 level.
The first quarter featured a close contest between the two teams. With the score at 8-8, a layup followed by a 3-pointer from Clemson transfer Daisha Bradford put ULM up by five.
The Razorbacks (1-0) responded with nine unanswered points to take the lead. A series of free throws by both teams ended the first quarter with a four point Arkansas lead, 19-15.
The Warhawks kept pace in the second. Down by four, Auburn transfer Sania Wells made a pair of treys to give ULM the lead. Arkansas tied the game with two consecutive baskets, but Wells answered with another bucket of her own to retain the lead. ULM held onto the lead going into halftime, 32-31.
Both teams went back and forth to start the third quarter. With the score at 37-37, the Razorbacks produced a 12-2 scoring run to give them control. The Warhawks answered with a 7-0 run which included a 3-pointer from Lauren Gross. The quarter ended with a three point Arkansas lead, 53-50.
In the final quarter of action, the Razorbacks jumped out in the lead with a 10-2 run. Arkansas led by as much as 14 points in the quarter, but the Warhawks weren't done yet. With the score at 75-63, a trio of three-point shots from Bradford and Auburn transfer Jakayla Johnson put the game within reach.
Unfortunately for ULM, it was too little too late, and Arkansas escaped with a narrow five-point victory.
Top players for ULM included Johnson who led the team with a career-high 34 points. Bradford had a team-leading eight rebounds and led the team with five assists.
The Warhawks will try to bounce back from the opening loss with a home contest against Miami (Ohio) in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge at 7 p.m. Saturday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
