The Trojans’ mastery of their in-state rivalry is as stable as the rafters at the Jack Stephens Center, where the University of Arkansas at Little Rock women’s basketball team has never lost to Arkansas State University.
UALR (10-8, 7-0 Sun Belt Conference) extended its home victory streak against ASU (9-9, 4-3) to 13 games with a 53-43 victory over the Red Wolves on Saturday afternoon in Little Rock.
UALR Coach Joe Foley now has tied ASU Coach Brian Boyer for the Sun Belt record with 180 conference victories.
“It may change back and forth a hundred times from now until the end of our careers, so who knows?” said Foley, who is 18-11 against ASU in his 15th season. “Whichever one gets out first, the other one’s going to end up with the most wins. Someone’s going to break it sooner or later, so I don’t get too caught up in that stuff.”
UALR 53, ARKANSAS STATE 43
The game developed slowly as the teams were a combined 1-of-13 shooting to start the game. ASU senior forward Lauren Bradshaw’s midrange jump shot provided the only points in the first five minutes of play.
The focus for each team was in the paint, and Bradshaw and UALR senior Keanna Keys jockeyed for position back and forth for the first several minutes. First, Bradshaw blocked Keys’ layup. Then, Keys drew a charge on Bradshaw, who followed up by swatting Keys’ layup attempt on the other end.
Once Keys missed two more shots, she let out a frustrated yell with her Trojans down 2-0 and 6:30 left in the first quarter.
UALR junior forwards Yanina Inkina and Ronjanae DeGray entered the game, and Inkina tied it with a midrange jump shot with 5:11 left in the quarter.
“I feel like we came out with a lot of jitters,” said DeGray, who scored a game-high 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. “Then we just settled down, playing our game.”
Bradshaw then matched up with DeGray, who scored the Trojans’ final six points of the period to lead 8-7, including a putback jumper after Bradshaw blocked her initial shot.
Bradshaw missed the rim on a shot clock violation to close the period, forcing the attempt over two defenders. She walked down the court and yelled “Move the ball.”
The Red Wolves had trouble doing so, and the offensive struggles continued into halftime with 10 total turnovers.
ASU junior guard Akasha Westbrook, unable to drive inside, forced a lateral pass, which was tipped and picked up by UALR senior guard Monique Townson. Her coast-to-coast layup put the Trojans ahead 12-9 with 7:48 left in the second period.
ASU tied the game at 12-12, but UALR answered with a 10-2 run, capped by a three-pointer from freshman guard Terrion Moore for a 22-14 lead with 2:21 left in the half.
The Red Wolves scored just before the halftime buzzer when UALR junior forward Raeyana DeGray tossed a rebound back into play and into Westbrook’s hands for a layup and 27-19 halftime deficit.
The Trojans widened their lead in a third quarter in which they outscored ASU 18-7 and held the Red Wolves to 2-of-13
(15.4 percent) shooting.
UALR freshman guard Tori Lasker recorded two three-pointers and a steal during the period, setting the Trojans up 45-26 going into the fourth period.
“We harped all week: When you play [UALR], it’s exhausting on both ends of the court,” Boyer said. “We weren’t ready to come out of halftime.”
Westbrook led ASU with 15 points. Keys scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds for UALR.
Both teams are on the road Thursday — UALR at Appalachian State and ASU at Coastal Carolina.
SOUTHLAND WOMEN
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 63,
ABILENE CHRISTIAN 45
Taylor Baudoin had 24 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists as the University of Central Arkansas (14-5) improved to 7-1 in the Southland Conference with a victory over Abilene Christian (12-6, 6-2) at the Farris Center in Conway.
Kierra Jordan finished with 23 points and a game-high 16 rebounds for the Sugar Bears, who shot 48.2 percent (27 of 56) from the floor and outrebounded the Wildcats 36-22.
UCA led 30-24 at halftime. The Sugar Bears stretched their lead to 42-28 with 3:46 left in the third quarter and entered the fourth quarter with a 45-34 advantage.
Baudoin’s layup gave UCA its largest lead, 60-41, with 2:19 remaining.
Breanna Wright led Abilene Christian with 12 points. Dominique Golightly had 10 points.
SWAC WOMEN
PRAIRIE VIEW A&M 64,
ARK.-PINE BLUFF 52
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (3-13, 1-5) lost its fifth consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference game, falling to Prairie View A&M (5-12, 3-3) at the William J. Nicks Arena in Prairie View, Texas.
Talisha Presley led the Lady Panthers with 17 points. Alexis Robinson had 14 points. Kendra Hicks finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The Lady Lions, who shot 35.6 percent (21 of 59) from the floor, were led by Faith Ohanta, who finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Destiny Brew-ton added 12 points.
UAPB trailed 10-8 at the end of the first quarter, but Prairie View A&M used a 20-11 second quarter to take a 30-19 halftime lead. The Lady Panthers led 45-37 at the end of the third quarter.
Sports on 01/21/2018