Box Score SAN ANTONIO, Texas-For the first time in school history, the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans start the season 3-1 with a 13 point victory over the University of Missouri-Kansas City 58-45 in the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic Saturday. The Trojans hit 54 percent from the floor with three players in double-digit figures.
Jocelyn Love scored 12 points in the first half and led all Trojans with 18 including two threes.
Heather Morris contributed 14 points including three three-pointers, while Jessica Brown scored a season high with 11 points.
Ashley Johnson led the team with seven rebounds.
In the first half, the Trojans gained the first possession and scored the first points of the game on a jumper by Love.
UMKC put one point on the board with a free throw before Love knocked down a three to score the first five points for UALR.
UALR went on a four point run with jumpers by Johnson and Andrea Keys before the Kangaroos knocked in their first field goal on a jumper by Liz Obrecht at the 16:39 mark.
The points changed hands until two free throws by Tamara Humphrey started a Trojan eight point run.
At the 7:02 mark, Sammi Knapic forced the UALR turnover and knocked in the jumper to narrow the lead 21-11.
After both team traded baskets, Jowan Ortega knocked in UMKC's last points of the half with a jumper.
The Trojans forced five Kangaroo turnovers in the remaining three minutes while scoring on three point shots by Morris and Love and a layup up and free throw by Jessica Brown to expand their lead to the largest of the half at 18.
Two Trojan turnovers and one UMKC turnover started the second half, until Mead hit a jumper for the Kangaroos to bring the score to 34-18.
Morris answered back with two straight three-pointers to UMKC's jumper to expand the Trojan's led to 20 points.
After technical fouls were called on both benches, UMKC scored eight consecutive points, until Love knocked in a jumper at the 8:21 mark.
UMKC would cut UALR's led to 10 two more times before the Trojans would score their final three points on a free throw by Brown and a jumper by Johnson.
Arkansas-Little Rock travels to Stillwater, Okla. to face Oklahoma State Tuesday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
