Turnovers, Fouls Prove Costly for Trojans Against LSU

LITTLE ROCK – Turnovers and fouls proved costly for Little Rock women's basketball as it took a 56-37 loss to LSU on Wednesday night at the Jack Stephens Center.
 
Sisters Raeyana DeGray and Ronjanae DeGray led the Trojans (3-8) with 11 and 10 points, respectively. For Raeyana DeGray, it was her sixth time leading Little Rock in points in the past seven games. Both finished the game with six rebounds each. Monique Townson led the game with four steals as she also put up five boards with four points. Keanna Keys was the Trojans' leading rebounder as she had seven to go along with a team-high two assists.
 
The Lady Tigers (7-3) also had two players in double figures as Chloe Jackson scored a game-high 23 while Shanice Norton put up 11. Norton led LSU with five assists and three steals while Faustine Aifuwa tallied a team-high seven rebounds. Jackson had all three of the game's three-pointers.
 
LSU took a 12-6 lead in the first quarter after going 4-for-14 (28.6%) with two three-pointers and two free throws. The Trojans were 3-for-12 (25.0%) with baskets from Tori Lasker, Ronjanae DeGray and Terrion Moore.
 
Little Rock trailed LSU 23-15 at the half. The Trojans improved their overall shooting percentage to 31.8 after going 4-for-10 (40%) in the second period. Townson, Lasker and Ronjanae DeGray ended the half with four points each. The Lady Tigers were 3-for-9 (33.3%) from the field in the second quarter while they were 5-for-7 (71.4%) from the foul line. LSU's Jackson ended the half with a game-high 15 points.
 
The Lady Tigers played their best basketball in the third quarter as they outscored the Trojans 16-5 to take a 39-20 lead. LSU was 6-for-17 (35.3%) in the period while Little Rock shot 25 percent (2-for-8) for the second time in the game. Both DeGrays tallied the Trojans' two field goals while Keys led the quarter with six rebounds.
 
The Trojans put up their best fight in the fourth quarter as both sides tallied 17 points each. Raeyana DeGray led the period with nine points as she went 4-for-7 from the floor. Little Rock shot 41.2 percent (7-for-17) in the final quarter — its best performance of the evening. On the other hand, LSU had its best-shooting quarter of the night as well at 62.5 percent (5-for-8).
 
Little Rock had the advantage in rebounds (40-31) as it tallied 40 for just the second time this season. The Trojans also held the Lady Tigers to their second-fewest points scored this season.
 
However, the Trojans allowed 25 turnovers and 27 fouls — the most in both categories this season. LSU scored a combined 32 points off turnovers and free throws.
 
With its non-conference slate finished, Little Rock will now turn its attention to its Sun Belt Conference schedule as it opens at home against Louisiana on Dec. 29 at 5 p.m.