[December 9, 2006]

MONROE, La. - Southern Arkansas University didn’t have enough horses to hang with Division I University of Louisiana-Monroe Saturday, falling 61-46 at the Taco Bell Warhawk Classic at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Warhawks moved to an impressive 10-1 on the season with the win, while the Lady Muleriders drop to 1-7.

Down by seven, 15-8, with 14:58 remaining in the opening half, SAU outscored ULM, 9-2, to tie the game at 17-17 after a free throw by Goldie White. The tie did not last long as the Lady Warhawks went on a 16-2 run to build a 14 point halftime lead at 33-19.

A lay-up by White to start the second half trimmed the lead to 12, 33-21, but a three-pointer by LaJeanna Howard and a free-throw by April O’Neal put Louisiana-Monroe up by 16 at the 17:09 mark. A jumper by White at 11:14 narrowed the Warhawk lead to 10 at 40-30, but that was as close as Southern Arkansas would get. ULM then went on a 17-7 run to take their largest lead of the game at 20, 57-37, following a lay-up by Dymond Hogg with 2:43 remaining.

LaJeanna Howard led Louisiana-Monroe with 13 points, hitting five of 12 from the field, including three of five from three-point range. Howard also dished out three assists. Nedra Winston added 10 points and two blocked shots, and Lottie Moore pulled down eight rebounds, as 14 Warhawks saw action in the game.

White and Brooke Grigsby led Southern Arkansas in scoring with game-highs of 18 points each. White was five of 14 from the field, missing on three attempts from beyond the arc, but hitting eight of 11 free throws. Grigsby was seven of 11, including two of three treys, and hitting both free throws. Kayla Jones grabbed five rebounds, Kristina Gardner tossed out two assists, and Gardner and Grigsby finished with three steals each. Only five Lady Muleriders scored in the game. Other than White and Grigsby, Jones chipped in seven points, Shardae Thompson had two, and Blair Jordan finished with one.

ULM shot 41.9 percent (21-48) from the field, 50 percent (6-12) on treys, and 65 percent (13-20) at the free throw line.

SAU experienced another rough shooting night, hitting just 14 of 53 shots from the field for 26.4 percent, including only two of 21 from three-point range for 9.5 percent. The team hit 16 of 20 at the charity stripe for 80 percent.

Louisiana-Monroe bullied the Lady Muleriders on the boards, 47-25, and had a 25-3 bench scoring advantage. SAU forced the Warhawks into 24 turnovers, while committing only 14 themselves.

Southern Arkansas gets eight days off for final semester tests, before hosting Southeastern Oklahoma State University on December 18. Tip-off from the W.T. Watson Athletic Center is scheduled for 3 p.m.

#SAU#