Little Rock Takes First Loss Against Tulsa, 74-61

LITTLE ROCK – The shots did not fall for Little Rock women's basketball as it took a 74-61 loss to Tulsa on Wednesday afternoon at the Jack Stephens Center.
 
Sophomore Kyra Collier led the Trojans (1-1) in points for the second straight game as she tallied 14. She was a perfect 6 for 6 from the foul line and led the team with two steals. In a team-high 32 minutes, Keanna Keys tied her career high for rebounds with 13 and put up 10 points to earn her first double-double of the season. Ronjanae DeGray was the third Trojan in double figures as she put up 10 with five rebounds.
 
Four of Tulsa's players scored in double figures. Tatyana Perez led the Golden Hurricane (1-2) with 18 points, four assists and two steals. Kendrian Elliot put up a double-double with the second-most points (17) and tied the game high for rebounds with 13. Crystal Polk had 14 points and six rebounds while Shug Dickson had 11 points and four rebounds.
 
The Trojans got off to a slow start as the Golden Hurricane ended the first quarter with a 21-16 lead despite Little Rock having the slightly higher field-goal percentage at 42.9 percent. Keys led Little Rock with five points while the Trojans went 6 for 14 from the field. Tulsa went 2 for 6 from three and 7 for 8 from the foul line to begin the game.
 
Little Rock looked much better in the second quarter as it outscored Tulsa 18-11. Down 24-18, Little Rock went on an 8-0 run to take its first lead. The Trojans went into the half with a 34-32 lead as Keys improved her game-leading point total to 11 with six rebounds.
 
Tulsa had its best performance of the game in the third quarter as it outscored Little Rock 22-13. The Golden Hurricane was 8 for 17 from the field while the Trojans were just 2 for 9. Collier and Tori Lasker were a combined 8 for 8 from the charity stripe.
 
Entering the fourth quarter with a 54-47 deficit, Little Rock wasn't able to get the momentum it needed to go past Tulsa as it was only able to cut the deficit to four. The Golden Hurricane took their largest lead of the game midway through the quarter at 68-54, and from there, the Trojans' deficit never went below 10.
 
Lasker finished the game with seven points, two assists and had Little Rock's lone three-pointer. Monique Townson and Yanina Inkina each scored five points. Anna Hurlburt and Raeyana DeGray each scored their first bucket of the season while Hurlburt earned four rebounds. Freshman Terrion Moore had four points and four rebounds, and freshman Teal Battle saw her first action of the season with one block and one point.
 
Little Rock shot just 34.4 percent (21-61) from the field while Tulsa shot 46.2 percent (24-52). The Golden Hurricane had just one more rebound than Little Rock at 39-38. Little Rock ended the game with more blocks (3-1) and steals (6-2) while committing six fewer turnovers (17-11).
 
The Trojans will now have a week to prepare for their first road trip of the season at No. 19 Texas A&M on Nov. 22.