LR Moves to 5-0 in Sun Belt With Win Over A-State

LITTLE ROCK – The Trojan women's basketball team got the better of its in-state rival on Saturday evening, defeating Arkansas State 73-59 at the Jack Stephens Center and staying perfect in Sun Belt Conference play.
 
The Trojans (11-6, 5-0 Sun Belt) led by as many as 20 points during the contest and led the Red Wolves (3-14, 1-4) for nearly 35 of the game's 40 minutes.
 
Senior guard Sharde' Collins a new career high with 24 points on 10 of 21 shooting. Senior Kaitlyn Pratt and junior Monique Townson each had 15 points, and Ronjanae DeGray scored 12.
 
Kyra Collier, meanwhile, scored just 4 points but added 11 rebounds and 10 assists for her third career double-double. The double-double was Little Rock's first using rebounds and assists since Ka'Nesheia Cobbins had 10 rebounds and 12 assists against Appalachian State in January 2015.
 
As a team, the Trojans reached 70 points for the fourth consecutive game, marking the first time the team achieved that feat since November 21-December 1 of 2012.
 
Arkansas State began the game with a 6-2 lead, but it was all Trojans from that point. Little Rock went on a 15-2 run from that point including a 9-0 run to close the first quarter, and the Trojans never trailed again.
 
Little Rock extend that run to 12-0 early in the second quarter before the Red Wolves finally scored a basket after their six-minute drought. Arkansas State would make the game close, using a 7-0 run to get within 4 points at 27-23. But from there, the Trojans went on a 13-3 run that included 4 points in the final 30 seconds of the half to go into the break leading 40-26.
 
The Trojans expanded their lead to 20 points in the third quarter, and the Red Wolves made one final push in the fourth. The game was tense with Little Rock's lead at just 64-56 with four minutes remaining, but a Townson 3-pointer and a DeGray layup pushed the lead back into double digits over the next 60 seconds to end the Red Wolves' threat.
 
Besides her rebounds and assists, Collier tied for the team lead in steals with Townson, each player recording five. Townson had four assists as well, and DeGray and Pratt had six rebounds apiece.
 
Little Rock earned a 26-8 edge in points off turnovers as the Red Wolves coughed the ball up 21 times. Little Rock also out-assisted Arkansas State 18-6.
 
Little Rock is back at the Jack Stephens Center on Thursday for a 6:30 p.m. matchup with Troy. Both undefeated in league play, the two sets of Trojans will be squaring off with sole possession of first place on the line.