HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana held ULM to 29.2 percent shooting from the field on the way to a 49-42 victory in non-conference women's basketball action Monday evening in the University Center.
 
Southeastern (5-4) snapped a three-game losing streak with the victory over its in-state and former Southland Conference foe. ULM fell to 5-4 with the loss – its first to the Lady Lions since the 2005-06 season.
 
Celica Sterling led Southeastern with a game-high 17 points, but for second-year head coach Ayla Guzzardo it was all about defense.
 
"Our offense is created by our defense and we play with more energy when we're making plays on that end of the floor," Guzzardo said. "Our defense allowed us to be more confident on offense."
 
Sterling was one of three Lady Lions in double figures, as Jaclyn Scholvin and Kyla Williams added 11 points apiece. The output represented a career-high for Williams, who has been making strides in her senior season.
 
"Kyla's had several great practices recently and she's earned her way into the starting lineup," Guzzardo commented. "When she gives us good minutes, it helps keep Caitlyn Williams out of foul trouble and allows us to be fresh in the final minutes. We're big believers that you practice like you play and Kyla's effort tonight was an extension of what's she's been given us in practice."
 
Caitlyn Williams led SLU with seven rebounds, while Kyla Williams and Sterling added six boards apiece. Tyler Morrison led Southeastern with four assists versus no turnovers, while also finishing with two steals.
 
Lauren Fitch led the visitors with 13 points and was the lone Warhawk in double figures. Arsula Clark added eight points and a team-high seven rebounds.  
 
Southeastern turned up the defensive intensity from the opening tip on Monday. The Lady Lions held ULM scoreless for the first five minutes of the game on the way to a 10-6 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
 
The Warhawks were better offensively in the second quarter, taking a 15-14 lead on a Clark bucket. However, a Scholvin three on the final possession of the half gave the Lady Lions a 21-20 lead at the break.
 
Southeastern took control of the game with its best defensive quarter of the season in the third. Sterling, Kyla Williams and Caitlyn Williams combined for 14 points, while the Lady Lions held ULM to six in the period to take a 35-26 advantage into the final period.
 
The Warhawks opened the final quarter on an 8-1 run to cut the Lady Lion advantage to 36-34 with 6:53 remaining. However, Sterling answered with consecutive threes and Caitlyn Williams scored off a nice feed from Morrison to put SLU ahead, 44-34, with 5:26 left.
 
From there, both teams went cold from the floor for the rest of the contest. The Warhawks could get no closer than four, as Southeastern earned its first win in December.
 
Southeastern returns home on Thursday to host Southern Miss at 6 p.m. in the University Center. Thursday's game will be a Cane's Challenge. If the Lady Lions score 50 points or more, fans will be able to take their game tickets or student coupons to their local participating Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers by the end of business Friday to receive a free combo with purchase of another of equal or greater value.
 
Jyar Francis is Thursday's Spotlight Player of the Game. The first 150 fans in attendance will receive a trading card featuring the Ponchatoula, Louisiana native courtesy of PRIDE.      
 
TICKET INFORMATION
For ticket information on the Southeastern women's basketball season, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.lionsports.net/tickets.
 
SEASON OF GIVING
Southeastern Louisiana Athletics, the Southeastern Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Office of Multicultural and International Student Affairs will hold a food drive throughout the months of November and December. Fans who bring one of the requested items to the University Center (game day only) or the Dugas Center for Southeastern Athletics will receive a voucher for a discounted ticket.
 
All items will be donated to the SLU Food Pantry. Requested items include snack bars, tuna, soup, cereal, pop tarts, macaroni and cheese, cup noodles, pasta, ramen noodles, chili, black beans, red beans, dry beans, peanut butter, jelly, Vienna sausage, rice, instant rice, instant potatoes, microwave meals, fruit cups, mouthwash, shampoo and toothpaste. 
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Women's Basketball, follow @SoutheasternWBB on Twitter, like /SoutheasternWBB on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.