COLLEGE WOMEN

Experienced Trojans advance

UALR 55, NORTH TEXAS 44

A group as light on experience as the UALR women's basketball team will likely need its returners to play well whenever they're on the floor.

On Friday, the Trojans settled for one getting off to a good start and another providing a good finish in a 55-44 season-opening victory over North Texas at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock.

Sharde Collins scored 10 of her 17 points in the first quarter to help UALR off to a good start in front of an announced crowd of 1,725, then Kaitlyn Pratt had six of her 14 points and three of her 14 rebounds in the fourth quarter to help provide the final kick.

It was plenty for a UALR victory in the first round of the Preseason WNIT, but it left the seniors, each of whom played 39 minutes, wanting a bit more.

"We can't come out that sluggish," Pratt said.

Said Collins: "I just need to finish. I started off kind of hot and then toned it down."

Coach Joe Foley had few complaints after the Trojans outscored the Mean Green 22-14 in a fourth quarter that included a 16-3 run after falling down 34-33 with 8:04 left. Given that it was the first game of the season and four of the nine Trojans who played were making their college debuts and another made her first career start, Foley was expecting some sloppiness.

The Trojans shot 36.2 percent from the floor, 70.4 percent from the free-throw line and committed 18 turnovers. But, Collins' 10 first-quarter points, the finish from Pratt and a solid defensive effort in which it held North Texas (0-1) to 31.5 percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers was enough.

"I thought we were just a little reluctant to do what we're capable of," Foley said. "That comes back to nerves. If you're afraid you're going to make a turnover, you're probably going to make a turnover. Too many turnovers, but for the first night, I expected us to be a little tight."

Collins wasn't, at least to start.

The returning senior is UALR's leading scoring guard after averaging 9.7 points per game last year. Her three-pointer from the right wing gave UALR a 3-0 lead, then she twice hit jumpers from the free throw line, a free throw and another jumper at the end of the quarter.

Collins even went crashing into the basket support chasing a loose ball once, and slid into a row of courtside chairs going for a loose ball another time. Other than the finish, when she made just 2 of 5 shots and scored just five points in the second half, Foley liked what he saw from the at-times streaky shooter.

"She kind of ran out of juice, and that's typical this time of year," he said.

Junior guard Monique Townson, UALR's third returning starter, finished with 13 points, most coming from 9 of 10 free throws. The Trojans were expecting to have four players with significant experience, but senior forward Keanna Keys had surgery Thursday to repair a torn labrum. Foley said she'll miss the season.

That means UALR will need more from forwards Ronjanae and Raeyana DeGray, sophomore twins from Odessa, Texas, Lytle and freshman Anna Hurlburt. Ronjanae DeGray had 5 points and 7 rebounds, while Lytle scored 4 points and had 2 rebounds.

Ronjanae DeGray, who averaged 6.3 minutes last year, played 32 minutes on Friday, while Lytle played 21 and Rayeana DeGray played 18. Freshmen Sydney Chastain, Kyra Collier and Hurlburt all saw time, as well.

"It's their first game and it's new to them right now," Pratt said. "But, they're good. We're all together every day in practice. It doesn't feel any [different] when we're playing with them."

It was UALR's experienced few who made plays needed to pull away in the fourth quarter. After Terra Ellison and Madi Townley made baskets to give North Texas a 34-33 lead with 8:04 left, Pratt made a free throw, then Townson hit a jumper to go up 36-34, which sparked a 16-3 run capped by two Townson free throws that made it 49-37 with 1:29 to play.

UALR will play at Wisconsin-Green Bay, which beat Elon, 71-56, in the second round at 1 p.m. Sunday.

"We just showed our youth, there's no doubt," Foley said. "But if you can play freshmen and sophomores and win right away, that's a plus.

OKLAHOMA STATE 76, ARKANSAS STATE 34

STILLWATER, Okla. — Arkansas State looked every bit like a team that is replacing five senior starters. The Red Wolves were held to 20.0 percent shooting form the floor (12 of 60), and no player scored more than the seven points they got from Starr Taylor and Dominique Oliver in their loss to Oklahoma State on Friday at Gallagher-Iba Arena. ASU (0-1) stayed in the game through the first half thanks to its defense. Oklahoma State (1-0) led 14-11 after the first quarter and 26-19 at halftime. But the Cowgirls outscored the Red Wolves 30-7 in the third quarter and 20-8 in the fourth. They shot 58.1 percent from the floor in the second half after shooting 35.5 percent in the first half.

BALL STATE 88,

ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 60

MUNCIE, Ind. — A slow start doomed Arkansas-Pine Bluff in its season-opening loss on Friday.

Ball State made five of its first seven shots from the floor to jump to a 13-2 lead. It was 26-9 after the first quarter and UAPB was never able to challenge in the season-opening loss.

The Golden Lions (0-1) were held to 29.0 percent shooting from the floor and committed 22 turnovers.

Malaik Muhammad, a junior transfer from Western Texas College, led UAPB with 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting. Shawntayla Harris and Niya Head each had 11 points for the Golden Lions.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS 71,

HENDRIX 39

CONWAY — Taylor Strickland scored 10 of her 23 points in the second quarter in a season-opening victory at the Farris Center.

UCA (1-0) led 19-9 after the first quarter when Strickland made 4 of 5 shots, 2 free throws and grabbed 2 rebounds in the second quarter. The Sugar Bears led the Warriors 41-16 at halftime.

Maggie Proffitt scored 15 points for UCA, while Brianna Mullins added 13 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.

Three players had eight or more rebounds for UCA, which outrebounded Hendrix 47-30. The Warriors shot 25.5 percent (13 of 51) from the floor.

Leah Boehl led Hendrix with 12 points. Madison Martin had 11.

Sports on 11/12/2016

Upcoming Events