Upcoming Battle: Warhawks Face Bearkats on the Road
MONROE, La. – The ULM women’s basketball team, boasting an impressive start of 4-0, is gearing up for their inaugural road matchup of the season against Sam Houston State, who holds a record of 3-1. The game is set to tip off at 6:30 p.m. CT at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum this Thursday, November 20.
Warhawks on the Airwaves
Fans can catch the game live on KMLB 105.7 FM with Mike Hammett providing play-by-play coverage. For those wanting to follow the action online, streaming will be available on ESPN+. Live statistics will also be updated on ULMWarhawks.com, where supporters can navigate to the women’s basketball schedule to find the game details.
Analyzing the Bearkats
Sam Houston State enters Thursday’s contest with a solid 3-1 record, their only loss coming against the #17 TCU on the road. The Bearkats have a diverse scoring lineup, with six players averaging at least seven points per game. Leading the charge is Fanta Kone, who scores an average of 12.5 points per game, also contributing significantly in steals (18) and assists (16). Meanwhile, Aysia Ward-Strong is making her presence felt in the paint, leading in rebounds with an average of 8.8 per game and recently posting a double-double against Prairie View with 10 points and 11 rebounds. SHSU excels at creating additional possessions, ranking in the top ten nationally for both offensive rebounds and turnovers forced.
Warhawks’ Offensive Leaders
The Warhawks showcase a trio of players averaging double-digit points. J’Mani Ingram tops this list with an average of 11 points per game, followed closely by Keshunti Nichols and Asjah Inniss at 10.5 points each. Nichols also leads the team in rebounds with 4.5 per game, while Nakiyah Mays-Prince excels in playmaking, averaging a team-high 5.5 assists. In terms of defensive performance, Kamille Brown leads in steals with ten, and both Nichols and Abby Leahy share the block lead with two each.
Strength in Depth
One of the key strengths for ULM this season has been the impact of the bench, providing an average of 35 points per game, ranking 23rd nationally and first in the Sun Belt. A highlight performance came against Eastern Michigan, where the bench accounted for 40 out of 80 points, marking their most impactful game since scoring 47 points in a season opener against Central Baptist.
Notable Performances
In the recent victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, redshirt junior Jazmine Jackson delivered a standout performance, recording a career-high 16 points and grabbing eight rebounds. This effort ties her with Ingram and Brown for the highest single-game total for the Warhawks this season.
A Historic Start for Coach Fletcher
First-year head coach Scotty Fletcher made history by becoming only the second coach in ULM program history to win their first four games, matching Linda Harper’s achievement from the 1978-79 season. This impressive start has brought back memories of the last time ULM began a season 4-0, which was during the notable 1984-85 season that led to a Final Four appearance.
Milestones Achieved
Graduate student Asjah Inniss reached a significant milestone in her career by scoring her 500th point during her 100th game against Grambling State. By hitting the mark with a three-pointer, she became the fifth player in ULM history to reach this feat. Katelyn Chomko also hit a milestone of her own, registering her 100th career point with a final trey against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Defensive Tenacity
ULM’s capability to force turnovers has been a standout aspect of their play, with an average of 21 turnovers generated per game, including a season-high 26 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The team is averaging 11.3 steals per game, with both Keshunti Nichols and Kamille Brown achieving career-highs in steals this season.
Team Composition
The Warhawks have a completely revamped roster this year, featuring 14 newcomers under Coach Fletcher. Comprised solely of upperclassmen, the team includes four juniors, two seniors, and eight graduate students. ULM shares the unique distinction with Indiana State of having no returning players.
Diverse Representation
With players hailing from 11 different states, ULM’s roster is as diverse as it is talented. The team features a notable number of players from neighboring Mississippi, while graduate forward Nailea Nicholas adds an interesting twist, having roots in the U.S. Virgin Islands despite growing up in California.
Experience Counts
With substantial Division I experience on the roster, eight of the eleven players have participated in over 50 games at this level. J’Mani Ingram leads this group with 107 career games, followed by Asjah Inniss (97) and Nakiyah Mays-Prince (89).
Sun Belt Experience
ULM’s roster includes three players familiar with the challenges of the Sun Belt Conference. J’Mani Ingram and Asjah Inniss previously played for Appalachian State, contributing to the team’s sixth seed in a conference tournament, while Nakiyah Mays-Prince led Georgia Southern in assists and steals last season.
