Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
UALR women win
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock women endured a slow start to defeat Louisiana-Monroe 57-37 on Sunday at the Jack Stephens Center and give Trojans Coach Joe Foley his 750th career victory.
UALR 57, LOUISIANA-MONROE 37
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock women’s basketball team endured a slow start to defeat Louisiana-Monroe 57-37 on Sunday at the Jack Stephens Center but still managed to give Trojans Coach Joe Foley his 750th career victory.
Foley had a 456-81 record at Arkansas Tech University from 1987-2002. Sunday’s victory extended his record at UALR to 294-161.
“Means I’ve been coaching a long time,” said Foley, who became the 29th coach in NCAA Division history in men’s and women’s basketball to reach 750 career victories. “That means I’ve had some great kids, I’ve had some great teams, and it hasn’t been a two-three year deal.”
Junior forward Ronjanae DeGray scored a career-high 23 points for UALR (5-8, 2-0 Sun Belt).
Graduate forward Keanna Keys was the only Trojan who could score in the game’s first five minutes. Keys was 3 of 3 shooting.
The rest of the team was 0 for 8, and the Trojans maintained their small lead with stout defense and offensive rebounding.
UALR outrebounded Louisiana-Monroe (3-10, 0-2) in the first five minutes 8-5, which included three offensive rebounds in one possession. That led to a Keys jumper from the right elbow, which set the Trojans ahead 6-2 with 6:33 left in the first.
After junior guard Kira Shepard made a shot from the right elbow, the Trojans didn’t score for the next three minutes. The Warhawks took their only lead, 9-8, when sophomore guard Carissa Moody made a 3-pointer with 2:13 left in the first.
DeGray made the final two shots of the quarter as the Trojans regained the lead, 12-9.
Both teams combined to miss five shots at the start of the second quarter.
UALR was 1 of 5 in its three-point shots, and the Trojans struggled to find ways to create enough space for open shots near the basket. Louisiana-Monroe drew three offensive charges by the middle of the second quarter.
Then, UALR senior guard Monique Townson drove to the basket, stepped back and made a short-range jump shot to extend the lead to 18-14 with 4:45 left in the half.
The Trojans began to set screens beneath the basket, leading to clear looks and four consecutive baskets to take a 24-18 lead into halftime.
By the third quarter, UALR became more creative with its outside game. On one possession, DeGray passed to an open Townson on the left wing, who drew two defenders as she drove to the rim. Townson flipped a pass back to DeGray, who made the short-range shot to give UALR a 29-18 lead with 7:12 left in the third.
UALR will next play at Georgia State on Thursday.
SUN BELT MEN UALR 71, LOUISIANA-MONROE 62
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock men’s basketball team earned its first Sun Belt Conference victory, 71-62, on Sunday over Louisiana-Monroe at the Jack Stephens Center.
UALR will next play at Georgia State on Thursday.
SOUTHLAND MEN SE LOUISIANA 73, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 69
The University of Central Arkansas had trouble making field goals in the first half and free throws in the second half and fell to Southeastern Louisiana at the Farris Center in Conway.
The Bears (7-8, 1-1 Southland Conference) shot just 31.3 percent from the field in the first half, then connected on just 14 of 22 from the line in the second half.
SOUTHLAND WOMEN CENTRAL ARKANSAS 63, SE LOUISIANA 47
The University of Central Arkansas held Southeastern Louisiana without a field goal and to only two points in the second quarter and the Lady Lions never recovered as the Sugar Bears (94, 2-0 Southland Conference) secured their 14th consecutive home victory in the Farris Center in Conway.