Box Score
LITTLE
ROCK, Ark.—Despite holding a nine point advantage, the UALR women's
basketball team allowed a 19-0 run by SMU in the second half and recorded 22
turnovers as the Mustangs defeated the Trojans 69-60 Monday at The Jack
Stephens Center. The Trojans fall to 1-1 for the season and recorded the first
home loss since WKU on February 16.
“It's going to be like
this for a while,” said UALR head coach Joe
Foley. “It is a work in progress. It's never fun to lose. You have to have
kids like Marian that has to be ready to step up. It is pretty typical of a
young basketball club.”
Freshman Taylor Gault led the team in points
with a career-high of 20 including four three-pointers, while senior Marian Kursh recorded 17 points and a
team-high seven rebounds.
UALR
opened the half with five-straight points including a three-pointer by Gault,
before SMU scored the Mustangs' first point at the 16:41 mark.
After
a jumper by Gault for UALR, a jumper by Kristin Hernandez sparked a 12-0 run to
give SMU the 14-7 lead with 12:47 until the half. The Trojans scored the team's
first field goal in four minutes on a layup by Kursh.
Over
the next four minutes, UALR outscored SMU eight to six including a steal and
fast break layup by Gault to cut the advantage to 20-17.
Both
teams exchanged points, before a layup by Kursh followed by three-pointer by
Gault sparked an 11-0 run by the Trojans to take the 32-27 lead. In the
remaining 15.2, both teams exchanged baskets for the 34-29 UALR edge at the
half.
SMU
opened the second half with a layup, before two free throws by Karisma Tyson and a layup by Kursh
after a SMU turnover brought the Trojan lead to 38-31 with 17:44 remaining.
A
free throw by SMU and a three-pointer by Janette
Merriex for UALR gave the Trojans the nine-point lead with 16:09 left,
before a layup by Christine Elliott sparked a 19-0 run including missed free
throws by UALR for the 51-41 lead with 9:15 on the clock.
UALR
scored the team's first field goal in eight minutes at the 8:54 mark on a
three-pointer by Merriex. After missed free throws by both teams, a free throw
by Tyson cut the Mustang lead to 53-45.
At
the 4:45 mark, the Trojans cut the lead to nine with a layup and one by Kursh,
but UALR turnovers allowed SMU to hold the lead.
SMU
won 69-60 scoring the Mustangs final two points on free throws.
UALR
continues basketball action on Thursday as the Trojans host defending National
Champions No. 6 Texas A&M. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at The Jack Stephens Center.
