Comforts of home

UALR women snap three-game losing streak

Although their second-half woes continued Tuesday night, a return to the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock gave the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Trojans a lift.

Junior forward Raeyana DeGray scored 16 points and freshman Tori Lasker was 6 of 6 from the free-throw line in the final 54.5 seconds as the Trojans women’s basketball team held off Oklahoma 68-56.

The Trojans (2-3) snapped a three-game losing skid and never trailed, but an 18-point third-quarter advantage dwindled to as little as 52-49 with 5:25 to play.

The Trojans entered the game having been outscored 137-107 in the second half this season, which included road losses at Texas A&M and Rice. UALR was outscored again in the second half Tuesday, but the Sooners (33) could not overcome a cold shooting start.

Oklahoma hit only 1 of its first 10 field-goal attempts and fell behind 16-2 with 3:34 remaining in the first quarter. By halftime, the Trojans had stretched their lead to 36-20.

The Trojans’ lead grew to 46-28 with 5:25 left in the third quarter after a short jumper by freshman guard Terrion Moore capped an 8-0 UALR run.

Oklahoma, however, outscored the Trojans 13-5 to end the quarter and scored 8 of the first 9 points of the fourth quarter.

The Sooners were within 55-51 with 3:23 to play but back-to-back baskets from Ronjanae DeGray and Keanna Key, plus two free throws from Raeyana DeGray, pushed the Trojans lead back to 61-51 with 1:49 remaining.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BENJAMIN KRAIN (right) dribbles past Oklahoma’s Gileysa Penzo during the Trojans’ 68-56 victory Tuesday night at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock. DeGray led all scorers with 16 points.