Box Score LITTLE ROCK, Ark.?The UALR women's basketball team gave Rice their first loss of the season with a 54-46 victory Monday at the Jack Stephens Center. The Trojans are now 3-1 in non-conference action and record their fifth Conference USA win.
“It was just a super win for us this early in the season,” said head coach Joe Foley. “I thought our defensive really gave us a chance to win, and that is what you have to do. Against a good ball club, you are not going to be able to score a lot. With a good defensive effort, you still have a chance, and that is what we did.”
Senior Jocelyn Love led that team in scoring with 18 points including two three-pointers. She also recorded six rebounds.
Junior Nikya Hughes recorded her third double-double of the season with 12 points and a team high of 12 rebounds, while freshman Anshel Cooper knocked down 12 points and recorded a team high of four steals.
Kim Sitzmann led the team in assists with seven.
UALR put the first points on the board with a layup by Hughes. The Trojans then went on a five point run with a three-pointer by Love and a jumper by Renz for the 7-0 start.
After the Owls knocked down four points, Hughes recorded a three-pointer to edge UALR 10-4.
At the 9:53 mark, Rice took their first lead of the half with a jumper by Kadie Riverin. UALR tied the score on a free throw by Cooper.
The score tied twice before the Owls took the 21-17 advantage on a layup by Riverin and a jumper by Lauren Neaves.
At the 1:44 mark, Love knocked down a three-point shot to spark a nine point run by UALR for the 26-21 lead.
Rice scored two points on free throws, before Cooper knocked down a jumper to give the Trojans a 28-23 lead.
In the second half, Rice score first with a layup by Neaves, before UALR knocked down five straight points on a layup by Love and a three-pointer by Hughes.
At the 10:10 mark, UALR took their biggest lead of the half on a jumper by Love to lead 44-30.
Rice bounced back cutting the Trojan lead to five with 4:51 remaining in the game, but UALR knocked down four straight points.
The Owls cut the lead to five again with 1:33 remaining on free throws and a layup by Samantha Stovall.
In the remaining minute, UALR outscored Rice 4-1 to win 54-46.
UALR continues non-conference action on Friday November 24 as they host Idaho State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
