ULM
ULM senior forward Gabriella Cortez has been named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team, as selected by the league’s head coaches. The 5-foot-11 Cortez led ULM in 3-point field-goals made (43), free-throw percentage (.817) and minutes played (30.5 per game). She ranked second on the team in scoring (11.2 points per game), rebounding (5.0 rebounds per game), assists (58) and steals (27).
More than half of her rebounds (51 of 100) came off the offensive glass. A native of Natchitoches, Louisiana, Cortez scored in double figures in 16 games, including three 20-point efforts. She posted double figures in scoring in five-straight games in January, averaging 14.6 points during the stretch. Cortez scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds at Appalachian State.
She tossed in 20 points at Louisiana Lafayette and netted a career-high 25 points vs. LSU-Alexandria, hitting 7-of-11 shots from the field and all 11 attempts from the free-throw line. Cortez reached double digits in rebounds twice, including a career-high 11 boards at Georgia Southern. “We’re happy for Gabby to receive this type of recognition from the Sun Belt Conference coaches,” ULM women’s head basketball coach Jeff Dow said. “She struggled the last month of the season last year with an injured shoulder but still found a way to either lead us or be among our leaders in several statistical categories. Now that Gabby’s healthy, she’s poised to have an even better all-around season as a senior.”
Cortez is majoring in criminal justice. She is the daughter of Noe and Marianne Cortez of Natchitoches and a 2014 NCHS graduate.
