Feisty defense goes to waste for UALR
LSU 56, UALR 37
For two-and-a-half quarters Wednesday night, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock women’s basketball team turned in a defensive performance worthy of an upset against an SEC team on its home floor.
But as the Trojans waited for their offense to get going, their defense waned as LSU pulled away for a 56-37 victory at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock.
Chloe Jackson led the Tigers with 23 points, but the Trojans held LSU below its season scoring average of 63.6. UALR held the Tigers to 37.5 percent shooting while forcing 17 turnovers.
The defense kept the game close at halftime — LSU led 23-15 — and the Trojans were within 26-18 after Monique Townson made one of two free throws halfway
through the third quarter. But LSU (7-3) closed the third quarter on a 13-2 run, and UALR never threatened while being held to a season-low point total, 34 percent shooting and forced into committing a season-high 25 turnovers.
Raeyana DeGray had 11 points, and her twin sister Ronjanae had 10 for UALR (3-8), but the offensive struggles continued in what is now a four-game losing streak. In losses to Louisiana Tech, at Mississippi State and at Kansas State, the Trojans were held to 51 points or fewer and less than 38 percent shooting.
“We just don’t have anybody that we can count on where we can say, ‘OK, this kid is going to get 15, this kid is going to get 12,’ ” UALR Coach Joe Foley said. “We just don’t have any firepower right now.”
Neither team did for much of Wednesday.
The Trojans missed their first five shots and LSU connected on just four baskets through the first quarter. Jackson, LSU’s junior guard averaging 15.0 points per game, seemed like the only player who could make shots for either team. She had 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting at halftime, while the rest of the Tigers scored just eight points on 2-of-16 shooting.
“She has a quick release, so coming off those screens, either you were in her or you weren’t,” Ronjanae DeGray said.
Foley gave Townson, UALR’s senior guard and its best defender, the task of guarding LSU’s leading scorer Raigyne Louis, who was held to six points, a season low. But that opened up chances for Jackson, who added five points in the third quarter, including a three-pointer that made it 39-20 heading into the fourth.
“That’s all we can do,” Foley said of picking which LSU player Townson would guard. “When they’ve got two like that, it’s hard.”
Foley said the defensive performance was pleasing, but the offense is a concern heading into UALR’s Dec. 29 Sun Belt Conference opener against Louisiana-Lafayette.
Sophomore guard Kyra Collier, who is averaging 9.3 points, watched Wednesday’s game with a boot on her right ankle. Foley said her eventual return could help, while Townson — who had four points Wednesday — said a different mentality could lead to more points.
“We’ve got to move the ball and get the ball in the paint more,” Townson said. “We’re going to win games when we get the ball in the paint and score, play an inside-out game.”
SUN BELT MEN MISSISSIPPI STATE 64, UALR 48
Mississippi State found its scoring touch in the second half, wearing down the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (3-10) on its way to the home victory at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Miss.
The Bulldogs (10-1) shot 51.6 percent (16 of 31) from the field in the second half as they outscored the Trojans 38-25.
The Trojans shot 37.0 percent from the floor, including hitting 4 of 20 (20 percent) on three-pointers.
Damir Hadzic led UALR with 9 points, followed by 7 each for Anthony Black and Ryan Pippins. Oliver Black added 6 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists for UALR.
Mississippi State’s Quinndary Weatherspoon led all scorers with 21 points, while teammate Abdul Ado had a game-high 13 rebounds, including 6 on the offensive end.
SOUTHLAND WOMEN CENTRAL ARKANSAS 53, CLEMSON 47
The University of Central Arkansas limited Clemson to 32 percent shooting and never trailed as the Sugar Bears defeated the Tigers on the opening day of the FIU Holiday Classic in Miami.
The Sugar Bears (6-4) — who entered the game ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense at 51.2 points per game — jumped on the Tigers immediately with the game’s first seven points and would lead for nearly 37 minutes as they recorded their first-ever victory over an ACC opponent.
Clemson (9-3), which came in limiting opponents to just 31.4 percent shooting for the season, surrendered 20 first-quarter points to the Sugar Bears, who shot 64.3 percent in the quarter en route to 43.5 percent (20 of 46) for the game.
The Tigers came into the game ranked second nationally in scoring defense at 49.7 points per game.
UCA’s Taylor Baudoin led all players with 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field and 11 rebounds. Kamry Orr had 13 points and 8 rebounds for the Sugar Bears, while Angel Williams chipped in 10 points.
UCA will play North Dakota State today at 11 a.m. for the tournament championship.
SOUTHLAND MEN OREGON 96, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 82
Jordan Howard’s 35 points weren’t enough for the University of Central Arkansas (6-7) to overcome the hot shooting of the Oregon (11-3) trio of Payton Pritchard, Troy Brown and Mikyle McIntosh at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore.
Howard, a senior guard, was 12 of 17 from the field, including 8 of 9 from threepoint range, for the Bears. Mathieu Kamba chipped in 14 points.
Led by Pritchard’s 24 points, which included 4 of 6 three-pointers, the Ducks shot 60 percent from behind the arc (12 of 20). McIntosh (17 points) and Brown (14 points) combined on 6 of 8 three-pointers for Oregon.