Box Score LITTLE ROCK, Ark.?Heather Morris knocked down a season high of 26 points, while Jocelyn Love contributed a season high of 20 points as the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans defeated Southern Mississippi 80-70 in the Jack Stephens Center Wednesday. UALR (8-3) tied their season high with 17 assists and recorded 11 steals.
“The first 12 minutes of the game was the best minutes of offense,” said head coach Joe Foley. “We shot well and had a lot of confidence in our offense. That is what we needed.”
Morris went 8 of 10 from the floor, 3 of 5 from the arc, and 7 of 7 from the free throw line for the night, while Love went 6 of 17 from the floor, 1 of 6 from the arc, and 7 of 12 from the charity stripe.
Renee Renz contributed 11 points and led the team in rebounds with eight and assists with four. Love also recorded four assist.
Jessica Brown knocked down eight points and led the team in steals with four.
Within the first five minutes of the game, UALR had taken a 10 point lead starting with a jumper by Brown.
With 4:25 remaining until half, Morris knocked down a three-pointer to spread the Trojan lead to 16.
The Golden Eagles (3-7) went on an 11 point run cutting the lead to five with 45 seconds on the clock.
Morris knocked down another three to bring the half-time score to 37-29.
The Trojans shot 52 percent for the first half making 14 of 27 from the floor and recorded ten assists.
Love started the second half with a layup giving the Trojans a ten point lead.
The Trojans would spread the points to as many as 15 twice with the last being at the 3:51 mark.
Two missed free throws and a turnover with less than two minutes remaining allowed Southern Mississippi to capitalize and cut the lead to five.
Free throws by Morris and Renz kept UALR's point spread to ten at the buzzer.
Arkansas-Little Rock continues non-conference action on December 30 as they face Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
