The Warhawks will start the 2022-23 season on a high note with an 83-47 exhibition win over Millsaps College Tuesday night. ULM controlled all facets of play and cruised toward an opening win.

The Warhawks started the game off with perfection as they jumped out to a 22-8 lead at the end of the first period powered by an 11-0 run.

“That’s the way we’ve wanted to play since we got here,” head coach Brooks Donald Williams said. “We love that up-tempo defensive style. So, it was great to be able to do that tonight.”

In the second period, Millsaps came out with a 5-0 run. After going back and forth, ULM finished with an 8-0 run to end the period. The halftime score was 38-21.

The third period had similar results as the second one. ULM finished on a 9-3 scoring run and held a commanding 56-35 lead.

ULM wasted no time in the fourth period. With 7:46 left and the score 58-41, the Warhawks began a game-deciding 17-1 run. ULM held off any attempt from the Majors and secured the win.

“The biggest difference was our energy,” Williams said. “We had great energy tonight. We got to see a lot of different lineups and how all those different groups looked in the press and in the half court.”

Top performers for the Warhawks included Olivia Knight, Kaitlyn Manuel and Kierra Brimzy. Knight shot 6-10, scored 16 points with four 3-pointers and had three rebounds, five assists and four steals. Manuel also scored 16 points with six of them being from the free throw line. She produced seven rebounds and two steals. Brimzy scored nine points with four rebounds.

ULM shot 37.8% on field goals with 28 made compared to Millsaps’ 34.2% with 13 made. The Warhawks also made improvements in their free throw shooting making 22-26 shots, good for 84.6%.

ULM will be back in action Monday night in their regular season opener against Louisiana Christian. The game will take place at 6:30 p.m. in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.