The Warhawks played a good defensive game against SMU, but the offense could not produce enough points to get by SMU. In her first official game as a Warhawk, junior guard Lauren Fitch scored 13 points and shot 75 percent from the field, but ULM fell to SMU 49-38.
“We were pleased with how well we battled on the boards,” Coach Jeff Dow said to ULM athletics. “To be dead even on second chance points and have only two fewer offensive rebounds was encouraging given the size of their front line.”
ULM got off to a rough start in the first quarter as SMU went on a 10-0 run to break open the game.
At halftime, SMU lead ULM 23-18 which was a comfortable margin for the Warhawks to be able to get back into the game and hopefully take the lead. Despite having a dismal offensive effort in the first half, ULM was only down by five. At the start of the second half, ULM was overwhelmed by SMU’s defense as they recorded one turnover after another. The Warhawks gave up a grand total of 26 turnovers. As the game progressed, ULM couldn’t cut into the lead like they did in the second quarter, when they cut it to just two. The defense for ULM kept them in the game for the most part, but the offense only shot 29.2 percent from the field. The Warhawks cut SMU’s lead to three, then four, but ULM couldn’t tie the game or manage to take the lead.
“Their length and bulk gave us problems on the offensive end,” Dow said. “We probably forced too many passes and attempted too many tough shots. I thought we were trying to do the right thing in terms of attacking the basket, but on several occasions, we probably would have been better served had we kicked it out to get a better shot.”
On a positive note, ULM held SMU’s high scoring offense to under 50 points and they only shot 35 percent from the field. Sophomore guard Arsula Clark was second on the team in scoring with seven. For SMU, the double double from their start player Alicia Froling, who scored 19 points to pair with 12 rebounds to lead the team.
The next home game for the Warhawks will be on Thursday, Nov. 15, against LSUA. The tip off is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Fant Ewing Coliseum. The following Sunday, the Warhawks will remain at home as they welcome McNeese State, tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m.