by MONROE, Louisiana – Caitlyn Ramirez‘s (Seminole Nation of Oklahoma) career night gave Troy women’s basketball an 11-point fourth quarter lead, but ULM stormed back and beat the Trojans, 77-73, at Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Thursday night.
The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for Troy (10-6, 5-2), but the Trojans will have a chance to bounce right back on Saturday at UL Lafayette who is 6-1 in league play.
Ramirez scored a career-high 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting and tied a career-high with 16 rebounds to lead the Trojans, including scoring 14 points in the third quarter to build Troy’s lead. That lead grew to 11 points, 61-50, with 8:55 to go in the game.
However, ULM (8-8, 2-5) shot 9-of-16 in a 27-point fourth quarter to come back for the win. Troy shot just 4-of-18 and 2-of-8 from long range as its lead slipped away.
The Warhawks took their first lead of the second half, 70-67, with 2:25 to go, but ArJae’ Saunders answered with a 3-pointer on the next possession. The Trojans, however, would come up empty on their next four possessions as ULM went ahead 76-70 thanks to an Alayshia Hunter layup and four three throws.
Ashley Beverly Kelley hit a 3-pointer with 16 seconds to go to get back within one possession, 76-73, but ULM made one of two free throws to ice the game.
Beverly Kelley scored 16 points, snapping a streak of five straight games with at least 20 points. The late 3-pointer was the only second-half bucket for the Sun Belt’s leading scorer. Beverly Kelley also ranks third in the league in assists, but only had one assist on Thursday night.
Troy shot just 36 percent (25-of-69) on the night and committed 23 turnovers. The Trojans forced ULM into 24 miscues, but the Warhawks shot 47 percent (28-of-59) and both teams scored 24 points off the others turnovers.
Hunter, the Sun Belt’s third leading scorer, ended the night with 20 points after scoring 14 in the decisive fourth quarter. Chelsea Tieuel also had 20 points for ULM, thanks in large part to 5-of-9 from long range.
Troy now faces a quick turn around and another tough road test on Saturday at the Cajundome. The Ragin’ Cajuns cruised past South Alabama on Thursday and have wins over Ole Miss and Arkansas on their resume this season. Troy and UL Lafayette will tipoff at 4 p.m. on ESPN3.
