Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
UALR step away from NCAA berth
NEW ORLEANS — The University of Arkansas at Little Rock women’s basketball team is one victory from a Sun Belt Conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Trojans advanced to the Sun Belt Tournament championship game with a 66-63 victory Saturday night in the semifinals over Troy, the only team to defeat UALR during the conference season.
UALR ( 22-9) led by as much as 11 points in the fourth quarter, and Troy (1714) had one final shot after UALR junior forward Raeyana DeGray missed two free throws with 6.4 seconds left in the game.
Kayla Robinson’s 3-point attempt fell short.
UALR junior forward Ronjanae DeGray scored a game-high 22 points, and the Trojans are returning to the Sun Belt championship game for the first time since 2016.
DeGray was a freshman then, when UALR lost 61-60 to Troy.
“I’m looking forward to playing in the game,” DeGray said. “Helping my team out and just getting the dub for Little Rock, for the program.”
Troy jumped to a 14- 8 lead with 2:39 left in the first quarter after UALR freshman guard Terrion Moore left the game when she injured her right ankle while being fouled on a layup attempt.
Troy attacked the lane with two post shots from 6-3 senior center Dajia Williams, and then a pair of Troy steals led to two more baskets.
Moore jogged back from the locker room during a media timeout and rejoined the game afterward.
She spurred an 11-2 UALR run with 4 points, 2 steals, 2 rebounds and an assist to give the Trojans a 17-16 lead with 43.4 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Moore finished the game with 4 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
“I think we got a warrior in that kid,” said Foley, who said he didn’t think the injury was going to keep Moore out of today’s championship game. “It’s gonna get sore, no doubt, tonight. But, you get that adrenaline pumping, and I think she’ll be able to go. I love kids like that right there.”
The DeGray twins combined for 10 of UALR’s 13 points during the second quarter as UALR led 32-27 at halftime.
Troy began to press UALR full court during the third quarter, which forced errant passes from Townson and Moore, three Troy offensive rebounds, and a 5-0 Troy run to trim the deficit to 47-45 with 1:45 left.
Ronjanae DeGray’s 3-pointer from the left corner extended the lead to 5345.
She opened the fourth quarter with a baseline jumper to give UALR its largest lead yet, 55-45.
Troy Coach Chanda Rigby said she implemented a 1-3-1 zone defense specifically for this game, since UALR had not played against it this season.
“Ronjanae just started finding the corner shot, and that’s the weakness in a 1-31 defense,” Rigby said. “She found it quick. That’s good basketball.”
Troy set the final score with two 3-pointers in the final 15 seconds before Robinson missed the final attempt.
UALR will play the winner between Texas State and Louisiana-Lafayette in the championship game at 6 p.m. today.