A 12-game winning steak ended for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock women's basketball team, which lost 76-70 in overtime to Troy on Saturday afternoon at the Trojan Arena in Troy, Ala.
Freshman guard Tori Lasker drove toward the basket in an attempt to tie the game with 51 seconds left, but her layup attempt was blocked from behind.
After Troy made some free throws, UALR (15-9, 12-1 Sun Belt Conference) received its first conference loss of the season from Troy (13-10, 8-4).
"[Troy] gave us an opportunity," said assistant coach Steve Wiedower, who spoke during the team's postgame radio show. "We had our chance, then in overtime, we could never get something to go our way. We cut the lead to three [points] or four a couple of times. But we just couldn't make a play."
The 12-game winning streak tied UALR's longest streak from last season, and the Trojans remain in first place in the Sun Belt standings.
UALR trailed 64-60 with 2:56 left in regulation, but junior forward Ronjanae DeGray and senior guard Monique Townson both made a pair of free throws to send the game into overtime.
Troy opened overtime with a 4-0 run on shots from sophomores Kayla Robinson and Amber Rivers. That provided enough distance to prevent another UALR comeback.
Robinson finished with a game-high 18 points, with 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
Lasker had a team-high 16 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists for UALR.
UALR tied a season-high with 21 turnovers, and Troy held the advantage in points off turnovers at 22-3.
Troy opened the game with a 9-3 lead, all scored by Robinson and Rivers, who made a three-pointer to start the game.
UALR coach Joe Foley subbed in leading scorer Ronjanae DeGray less than two minutes into the game, when Troy led 5-3.
DeGray scored on a jumper and layup to pull UALR within 15-11 by the end of the first quarter.
UALR kept pace with Troy during the second period, and Lasker gave UALR its first lead, 25-22, with a three-pointer near the left baseline with 3:08 left in the first half. Troy sophomore guard Harriet Winchester answered with a three-pointer on the next possession to tie the game.
Troy led 31-30 at halftime.
UALR next plays at Arkansas State on Feb. 17 at 3 p.m.
Arkansas State 75, South Alabama 60
The Arkansas State University women's basketball team won its third game in its past four against South Alabama at the Mitchell Center in Mobile, Ala.
ASU junior guard Akasha Westbrook scored a career-high 23 points for the Red Wolves (13-11, 8-5 Sun Belt Conference), which sealed the game with an 11-0 run in the final three minutes of play.
South Alabama (15-8, 8-4) finished the game 0-for-7 shooting and finished 6 of 29 (21 percent) from three-point distance. The Jaguars have now shot 15 of 75 (20 percent) from three-point distance in their past three games.
ASU sophomore guard Jada Ford scored 20 points, including a three-pointer that gave the Red Wolves a 24-10 lead after the first period.
South Alabama pulled within 55-49 by the end of the third period, and the Jaguars came within 59-56 when senior guard Candice Williams made a three-pointer with 5:54 left in the game. That was as close as South Alabama would come.
Williams and senior center Chyna Ellis both scored 12 points for South Alabama.
ASU will next host UALR on Feb. 17 at 3 p.m.
Southern 59, UAPB 46
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff women's basketball team's winning streak ended at two with a loss to Southern at the F.G. Clark Activity Center in Baton Rouge.
UAPB (5-17, 3-9 Southwestern Athletic Conference) were within 5-4 of Southern (11-10, 10-2) with 7:23 left in the first quarter. Southern responded with a 20-4 run through the second period, and the Jaguars led 33-19 at halftime.
The closest the Golden Lions came was 57-46 with 36 seconds left in the game, when sophomore guard Noe'll Taylor made a layup.
Senior forward Faith Ohanta had a game-high 17 points, with 12 rebounds and an assist.
The Golden Lions will next play at Alcorn State on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
Sports on 02/11/2018