Box Score DENVER, Colo.?For the first time in two meetings and the first time at Magness Arena, the UALR women's basketball team held on for a 45-41 win over Denver Sunday. The Trojans improve to 11-5 over and 3-2 in the Sun Belt Conference.
Chastity Reed and Kim Sitzmann led the Trojans with ten points, while Reed also led the team in rebounds with nine.
Nikya Hughes contributed eight points, and Andrea Keys contributed eight boards in the win.
Denver's Nnenna Akotaobi led all scorers with 15 points.
Denver put up the first points going on a 5-0 run with a jumper by Sara Bents and a three by Akotaobi.
After a jumper by Keys, the Trojans knocked down six straight points including four by Anshel Cooper to take an 8-5 lead.
A three-pointer by Andie Mason tied the score, before Sitzmann regained the lead on free throws.
After a Denver layup, UALR went on a 7-0 run including five points by Hughes to extend their advantage to 17-10.
The Pioneers then scored four straight points to cut the Trojan lead to three, before Cooper nailed a jumper to spark an eight point run including four points by Reed to bring the score to bring the score to 25-14 with 2:02 until the half.
Over the remaining minute, the Pioneers out scored UALR four to two to cut the Trojan lead to 27-18 at the half.
Both teams exchanged points to open the second half with Denver out scoring UALR four to three.
After a layup by Reed, Alisha Godette knocked down a three to cut the Trojan lead to 32-25. Reed scored on a layup followed by a three-pointer by Sitzmann to regain a 12 point lead with 14:16 remaining.
Over the next six minutes, the Pioneers out scored the Trojan ten to five including three-pointers by Brooke Meyer and Akotaobi to cut the lead to seven with 6:45 on the clock.
Denver scored seven points to UALR's two over the next four minutes including a three-pointer by Mason with 1:30 remaining to bring the Pioneers within three.
Sara Benham attempted a three-pointer with seven seconds remaining, but Keys rebounded the ball and was fouled.
Hughes made one-of-two free throw with 3.1 second remaining to give UALR the 45-41 win.
UALR continues basketball action on Thursday as they host Louisiana-Monroe at the Jack Stephens Center. Game is set for 5:15 p.m.
