MONROE, La. - UL Monroe's hot second-half shooting hindered Lamar University, which never got into an offensive flow, and led to a 62-47 loss Sunday at the Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
Kamryn Wilson led the Cardinals with 14 points on 6-of-15 shooting.
Jacei Denley (5-of-9) totaled 12 points and dished out three assists while
Solenne Olenga grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and had six points alongside
Shaila Forman.Â
Throughout the game, the Cardinals converted 35.8 percent of their shots from the field, but struggled from behind the three-point arc (22.2). The Warhawks, who finished shooting 43 percent from the field, outrebounded LU, 35-29, and controlled the paint (36-26) while forcing 25 turnovers.Â
The Cardinals took an early 6-4 lead midway through the first quarter. However, they would miss eight consecutive shots while the Warhawks responded with nine points to take a 13-9 lead after one.Â
ULM's advantage grew to nine, 18-9, to start the second quarter, but the Cardinals answered with a 9-2 run created by the tandem of Denley and
Molly Powell. Denley recorded eight points in the quarter as LU connected on 53.8 percent of its shots from the field, its highest percentage of the game. Wilson added five points, including a three-pointer, to tie the game at 26 entering halftime.Â
It appeared as if Wilson, the sophomore from Grand Prairie, had the hot hand by opening the second half with five points to hand LU a 31-30 lead. After trading baskets, the Warhawks suddenly got the momentum on their side with a 7-2 surge to end the third quarter up 44-37.Â
The Warhawks continued their strong second-half play by outscoring LU 18-10 in the fourth quarter. While both Wilson and Olenga collected four points each, the Cardinals' offense was held to 34.6 percent shooting in the second half, which included one three-pointer.Â
The Cardinals will be back in action Tuesday, Dec. 2nd, as they open Southland Conference play at home against UT Rio Grande Valley. The ball will be tipped off at 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
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