Box Score LITTLE ROCK, Ark.?Chrissy Givens knocked down 33 of Middle Tennessee's 75 points as the Blue Raiders defeated UALR 75-62 at the Jack Stephens Center Saturday. UALR shot 45.5 percent from the floor but committed 18 turnovers.
"I expect our kids to play up to expectations, and I told them going into this week that that they would learn more basketball in the next two games than they have the whole year, espically without Jocelyn out there," said head coach Joe Foley. "I said you are going to find out that you are going to play both of these teams fairly well. I said you guys are developing into a good ball club. I said that you are going to learn a lot, but you are going to find out that you are not that far away from the top teams in our conference."
Anshel Cooper led the Trojans with 20 points, while Kim Sitzmann knocked down 18 points and led the team with four assists and three steals.
Renee Renz contributed 11 points, while Nikya Hughes led the team with eight rebounds and two blocks.
Givens went 13-of-22 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free throw line, while Amber Holt contributed 13 points, and Krystle Horton knocked down ten.
After Middle Tennesse gained the tip, Hughes knocked down a jumper to put UALR up first.
Both team exchanged baskets with the score tying twice, until the 16:26 mark when the Blue Raiders knocked down seven straight points including a three-pointer by Starr Orr.
Cooper made a layup and one to cut the lead to four, before MTSU knocked down seven straight points for the 18-7 advantage.
Middle Tennessee extended their lead to as many as sixteen points throughout the half.
With 26.2 second remaining, Sitzmann stole the ball and made a fast break away layup to cut MTSU's lead to 37-24 at the half.
The Blue Raiders started the second half with back-to-back jumpers by Horton. Renz made the first field goal for the Trojans with a three-point play.
Both team exchanged baskets with UALR etching into the Blue Raiders' lead. At the 7:56 mark, a layup by Keys from Sitzmann cut the MTSU lead to ten 56-46.
A three pointer by Johnna Abney with 5:22 remaining put Middle Tennessee back up by 13.
Over the remaining five minutes both teams knocked down 12 points with Givens scoring eight points for the Blue Raiders and Sitzmann knocking down five for the Trojans.
Hughes knocked down a jumper with 14.8 second remaining, but Middle Tennessee won their ninth straight conference match-up 75-62.
UALR continues basketball action on January 23 hosting non-conference Harding University. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
