Little Rock Looks for 2-0 Sun Belt Start vs. ULM

Game 14: Little Rock vs. ULM
Date	Saturday, December 31
Time	1 p.m.
Location	Little Rock, Ark.
Stadium	Jack Stephens Center
Stats	Statbroadcast
Audio	KARN The Sports Animal
Video	Little Rock All-Access
Notes	Little Rock | ULM

LITTLE ROCK – The Trojan women's basketball team will look to move to 2-0 in Sun Belt Conference play on Saturday afternoon as ULM comes to the Jack Stephens Center for a New Year's Eve showdown.
 
At Saturday's game, children under 12 years old will be able to eat for free, and the Kids Zone will return for the first doubleheader of the year. Fans will also be able to get a free tech glove upon entry while supplies last. The Little Rock men will tip off following the women's game.
 
The Trojan women started Sun Belt play on Thursday night with a 64-60 victory over Louisiana, a come-from-behind win that saw the Trojans trailing for more than 30 minutes of game clock. Louisiana led by 15 points at the end of the first quarter, but Little Rock whittled away at that Cajuns lead and eventually took over midway through the fourth quarter.
 
Sharde' Collins led the way for the Little Rock offense with 22 points, and the emergence of freshman Kyra Collier continued as she picked up a career-high 16 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high seven assists to just miss out on a triple-double. Kaitlyn Pratt also had 15 points for the Trojans.
 
Little Rock shot 24 of 29 from the free-throw line and is now the best free-throw shooting team in the Sun Belt Conference. The Trojans are making 76.8 percent of their free-throw attempts, far better than last year's 68 percent effort.
 
The Trojans are also now the highest-ranked Sun Belt team in the national RPI, rating No. 52 on Friday morning. Little Rock is the highest-ranked six-loss team in the nation as well. The Trojans enter Saturday's game at 7-6 overall on the season and 1-0 in league play.
 
ULM comes to the Jack Stephens Center with the second-lowest overall winning percentage in the Sun Belt Conference. The Warhawks are 3-9 overall and 0-1 in Sun Belt play after losing to Arkansas State to begin their league season on Thursday. ULM has the fifth-lowest RPI in the nation and just one win against Division 1 opposition.
 
Point guard Alexis Collins leads the way in scoring for the Warhawks with 12.6 points per game and also has 46 assists in the Warhawks' 12 games to place third in the Sun Belt. Gabriella Cortez is second on the team in scoring with 11.9 points per game. Stephanie Ratliff is the Warhawks' top rebounder with 8.7 boards per game.
 
TIP OFF

• Little Rock began Sun Belt Conference play with a thrilling victory on Thursday, coming back from a 15-point deficit to defeat Louisiana.
• Sharde' Collins scored 22 points for the Trojans to lead the team.
• Kyra Collier had her second career double-double with 16 point and 11 rebound while also setting a career best with seven assists.
• Kaitlyn Pratt recorded double-figure scoring with 15 points as the Trojans set a new season best with 64 points scored.
• Little Rock's excellent free-throw shooting helped as well as the team went 24-29 from the line including 19-21 in the second half.
• Little Rock's 15-point deficit overcome is its second such game this year (Tulsa) and tied for the biggest overcome deficit in a win in the Joe Foley era.
• The Trojans played four major-conference opponents in non-league play this season, losing all four of those games. Despite losing, Little Rock was competitive in all four games through halftime.
• Little Rock was picked to finish second in Sun Belt Conference play in the league's preseason coaches poll.
• The Trojans have a 22-3 all-time lead in the series against ULM.