MONROE, La. - ULM head coach Mona Martin
became the all-time winningest women's basketball coach Wednesday night as the
Warhawks defeated Troy, 69-67, inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The win was the
closest margin of victory for ULM this season.
Martin passes Linda Harper (1978-90) on the
all-time coaches' wins list and now has 214 victories in 15 seasons of directing
the Warhawks. She has compiled seven winning seasons and two 20-plus winning
seasons during her time in Monroe.
"It is very special that ULM has so much
tradition and history," Martin said. "I am proud to now be apart of that
history. I feel like I have a great coaching staff and EJ has been a special
part of this program and I give credit to her. This win is just as much for her
as it is for me. I am very proud to be a part of this."
ULM (7-6, 1-2 Sun Belt) led by as many as 15 points
in the second half before the lead nearly slipped away in the final seconds.
Troy used a Sarah McAppion layup with 13.6 seconds remaining to cap an 18-4
scoring run over the final six minutes and knot the contest at 67-67.
On the next possession of the game, Sannisha
Williams drove the basket and was sent to the free throw line after being
fouled. She knocked down 2-of-2 free throws to push the Warhawks in front 69-67
with 4.9 seconds left. Troy's 28-foot 3-point heave fell short of giving the
Trojans a dramatic come-from-behind win.
"I would have rather won by 15 points, but a
win is a win," Martin said. "I knew it was going to be a good ball game, because
they are a really good team. I guess it is fitting for the crowd to win in a
dramatic fashion like we did, but I want to win every game by 15 points or
more."
The Warhawks held on for the victory after
shooting 16-for-16 from the foul line in the second half. Overall, ULM finished
22-for-24 at the charity stripe, its most free throw makes of the season.
Sannisha Williams led four ULM players with
14 points, to go along with nine rebounds. Jesse Carrier scored 13 points,
including 8-of-9 at the charity stripe, while Larrie Williams finished with 11
points and eight rebounds. Elizabeth Torres also scored in double-figures with
10 points.
Donette McNair led all scorers with 17 points
on 8-of-13 shooting from the field. Alyce Shearing concluded the game with 16
points, while Brittnie Davis added 12 points. Sophie Kleeman and McAppion each
chipped in 10 points.
ULM exited the locker room at halftime and
went into lockdown mode on defense. The Warhawks held the Trojans scoreless in
the first 6:03 of the second half, before McNair sank the second of two free
throws. In the process, ULM went on a 10-1 scoring run to build a 43-34 lead.
Less than two minutes later Troy recorded its
first field goal of the second frame when Davis sank a 10-foot jumper from the
left base line. The bucket cut the ULM lead to 49-36 with 11:43 remaining in
the contest.
After ULM built a comfortable double-digit
lead for most of the second half, Troy's offense kicked it into high gear and put
together a 16-0 scoring run. After the Warhawks led 65-49 with six minutes to
play, they found themselves in the seventh tie of the game, 65-65, with 58
seconds remaining.
In the opening period it was a tale of lead
changes and scoring ties. ULM and Troy combined for six scoring ties and eight
lead changes over the course of the first 20 minutes, while neither team led by
more than five points.
Statistically both sides of the box score
were nearly identical as the scoreboard read 33-33. The Warhawks shot 41.9
percent, while the Trojans recorded 46.4 percent from the field. Larrie Williams
tallied nine points from the ULM bench and Shearing led Troy with 16 points at
the break.
ULM will finish its three-game homestand on
Saturday with a 2 p.m. showdown against UALR, the reigning Sun Belt Conference West
Division Champions, inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The game is the first part of a
doubleheader with the Warhawk men's team.
