LITTLE ROCK — The UALR women’s basketball team’s 55-53 loss to Florida International on Saturday was its fourth in five games and third consecutive at the Jack Stephens Center.
But Coach Joe Foley wasn’t as upset about Saturday’s setback as some of the others.
There wasn’t much his Trojans could do when the Sun Belt Conference’s best player had one of her best games of the season.
Florida International junior guard Jerica Coley scored 37 points, two off her career high, including 20 of her team’s final 22 points while stretching UALR’s home losing streak to three games for the first time since 2005. She made 10 of 18 shots from the floor and made 16 of 21 free throws, while trying to chase her got several UALR players in foul trouble.
Coley, the Sun Belt’s preseason player of the year, had 18 points in the first half on jumpers, drives to the basket and free throws, then scored all nine of her team’s points over the final 5:32.
“She’s tough,” Foley said. “I wasn’t expecting 37, but I knew she was going to be tough for us to guard. We’re a little bit young, as far as being able to take on the individual. Defensive stopper is what we need right now.”
No other player scored more than six points for Florida International (10-6, 4-3), part of why UALR (11-5, 4-4) was in the game until the end.
UALR led 4-2 less than 2 minutes into the game, but trailed until Taylor Gault made five consecutive free throws - she was fouled shooting a three-pointer and made two others after Florida International Coach Cindy Russo was issued a technical foul for throwing a water bottle - to go up 53-52 with 1:12 left.
But Coley’s jumper from right outside the lane gave Florida International the lead back, Taylor Ford was called for double dribble on UALR’s next possession, and after Coley missed a free throw Ford sprinted down the floor for a layup that rolled off the back of the rim with 2 seconds left.
Foley had one timeout left when Coley missed her free throw, but when Ford got the rebound with 12 seconds left and had space to start running toward the other basket,he didn’t call it.
“If Ford can get there, that gives you a chance,” he said. “She may even got hit a little bit. She took it to the hole. That gives you a chance to get the rebound. I was pleased that she got to the rim.”
Coley’s outburst earned her team a victory, but Russo’s made it a bit tighter in the final minute.
UALR trailed 34-25 less than 20 seconds into the second half, but got it to within 34-33. The Trojans got within two points four other times but didn’t tie or take the lead until Gault spotted up for a three-pointer at the top of the key.
Gault was fouled by Coley, and then Russo tossed a water bottle under the team’s bench to draw the technical foul.
“I’m not really sure why it [the technical] was called,” Russo said. “Because none of them [the officials] saw me throw the bottle under my bench. I just tossed it underneath it. Some fan said something, so they said they had to call it.”
Four UALR players finished the game with at least three personal fouls. Hannah Fohne finished with four and guard Janette Merriex, who came off the bench but tracked Coley for much of the game, fouled out in the final minutes. Three of Merriex’s five fouls were committed against Coley.
“It was frustrating seeing her get fouls because she’s such a great defensive player. We need her on the court,” Gault said. “We need her, we need Ford, we need everybody out there.”
Gault, who returned to the starting lineup after a two-game absence, finished with a team-high 23 points,and freshman Carolee Dillard, one of three freshmen to start Saturday, finished with a season-high 10 points and 16 rebounds.
“I thought she grew up tonight,” Foley said. “And that’s what we need. We need a post presence.”
ARKANSAS STATE 48, LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 39
Jane Morrill scored 14 points to lead Arkansas State (8-9, 5-3 Sun Belt Conference) past Louisiana-Lafayette (7-10, 1-7) in Lafayette, La.
Morrill led all scores and had five rebounds and three steals. Ashley Olvera added 12 points, and Hanna Qedan finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Arkansas State outscored Louisiana-Lafayette 18-0 to start the second half and led 32-15 after scoring just 14 points in the first half. Morrill scored 10 points in the second half, including six points during the run.
Louisiana-Lafayette’s first field goal of the second half came at the 10:23 mark on a layup from Sylvana Okde.
ASU outscored Louisiana-Lafayette 34-24 in the second half. ASU had a 48-39 rebounding edge and forced the Ragin’ Cajuns into 19 turnovers.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Arkansas State 48, La.-Lafayette 39 Fla. International 55, UALR 53 Middle Tennessee 66, La.-Monroe 48 W. Kentucky 86, Florida Atlantic 68 North Texas 67, South Alabama 47
Sports, Pages 28 on 01/13/2013