UALR Coach Joe Foley wasn't sure what he would get in Friday's season opener with so many new players on his women's basketball roster.
What he go was a painfully slow start.
UALR scored only four points in the first quarter on its way to a 69-53 loss to Tulane in New Orleans.
Kaitlyn Pratt scored 15 points and had 10 rebounds and Shanity James had 11 points and 6 rebounds, but the Trojans' guards couldn't get going while losing to the Green Wave for the second consecutive season.
Alexius Dawn, a preseason All-Sun Belt pick, was held to 2-of-7 shooting from behind the three-point line and finished with 7 points after picking up three fouls in the first quarter. Monique Townson had 8 points, and Sharde' Collins, who missed much of preseason practice because of a stress fracture in her foot, was held to 3 points on 1-of-4 shooting.
UALR (0-1) was held to 34.5 percent shooting from the field and had 17 turnovers.
Tulane (1-0), which handed UALR its only home loss last season, shot 47.8 percent from the floor and scored 19 points off turnovers.
Leslie Vorpahl had 14 points for Tulane, while Kolby Morgan had 12 points and Taylor Emery had 11.
UALR trailed 15-4 after the first quarter and by as much as 36-19 in the second quarter. Tulane led 38-23 at halftime before UALR closed to within 44-32 on Collins' jumper with 2:09 left in the third quarter.
The Green Wave scored the final six points of the quarter and led 50-32 heading into the fourth, and it took a 52-32 lead in the opening minute of the final quarter.
SOUTHLAND WOMEN
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 72, HENDRIX 43
CONWAY — Maggie Proffitt led Central Arkansas with 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting and Central Arkansas (1-0) won convincingly Friday night at the Farris Center. The Sugar Bears led 21-9 after the first quarter, 35-18 at halftime and 56-28 after three quarters. UCA shot 45.6 percent from the floor, including 5-of-8 three-pointers. The Sugar Bears also had a 24-21 rebounding advantage and had 16 turnovers to Hendrix’s 25. Central Arkansas had 24 points in the lane, 10 second-chance points and 6 fast-break points. Brianna Mullins had 10 points and five assists for UCA, while teammate Taylor Baudoin had 10 points and six rebounds. Estrella Flores led Hendrix with 11 points and six rebounds. Caitlin Kriesel-Bigler had 10 points and two rebounds for the Lady Warriors.
SUN BELT MEN
SIU-EDWARDSVILLE 79, ARKANSAS STATE 70
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — Jalen Henry scored 18 points while Burak Ellis had 13 and Yemi Makanjuola had 11 points to lead the host Cougars past the Red Wolves Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
Tied 37-37 at halftime, the Cougars (1-0) trailed for the first six minutes of the second half before Conner Wheeler made a three pointer to put Southern Illinois-Edwardsville up 47-45, a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the game.
Arkansas State cut the lead down to 57-55 with 6:49 left on a three pointer by Devin Carter, but the Cougars responded with a 9-4 run over the next 3:06 and would make 11 free throws down the stretch to win the game.
Carter led the Red Wolves (0-1) with 22 points coming off the bench, making four three pointers.
SWAC MEN
UAPB 58, SEATTLE 56
SEATTLE — JoVaughn Love made the big plays Friday night for UAPB (1-0) in the Elgin Baylor Classic at KeyArena.
Love made a basket with 28 seconds left to put the Golden Lions up 57-56. UAPB’s Charles Jackson made a steal with 13 seconds left before Love was fouled. He made the first free throw to put the Golden Lions ahead 59-56 before missing the second. Brendan Westendorf missed a game-winning three pointer at the buzzer for Seattle (0-1).
Love led the Golden Lions (1-0) with 15 points while Deshon Baayless had 10.
Sports on 11/14/2015