Trojans Blow Out Cajuns in Sun Belt Opener

LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock women's basketball led for all but 22 seconds as it cruised to a 78-43 victory in its Sun Belt Conference opener against Louisiana on Friday night at the Jack Stephens Center.
 
The 35-point margin of victory was Little Rock's largest ever in a Sun Belt opener. The Trojans' victory was the 19th consecutive home conference win and improved Little Rock's record to 38-1 in Sun Belt games at the Jack since the 2013-14 season.
 
Raeyana DeGray posted a career-high 17 points with five rebounds and two assists as she went 7-for-14 from the field. Monique Townson tallied a season-high 17 points with seven assists and a career-high eight rebounds. Ronjanae DeGray came up a basket shy of her career high as she put up 16 points with five rebounds while shooting 7-for-9.
 
Malachi Williams was the only Louisiana player in double figures as she finished the game with 11 points, three assists and two rebounds.
 
Little Rock (4-8, 1-0 Sun Belt) ended the first quarter with a 21-9 lead over Louisiana (5-8, 0-1 Sun Belt) as it went 10-for-16 (62.5%) during the period. Ronjanae DeGray led the quarter with six points as she went 3-for-3 from the field. The Cajuns committed eight turnovers in the quarter while the Trojans committed just two. Little Rock took advantage by scoring eight points off turnovers and 12 points in the paint.
 
The Trojans' lead continued to build in the second quarter as it ended the half with a 23-point advantage at 40-17. Little Rock outscored Louisiana 19-8 in the period after two six-point runs and a five-point run. The Trojans scored 14 of their 19 points in the paint as Raeyana DeGray led the quarter with seven points and four rebounds.
 
The Cajuns put up their best fight in the third quarter as they shot a game-high 50 percent (7-for-14). However, the Trojans also put up their best percentage of the game at 70 percent (7-for-10) while nailing all six of their foul shots. Little Rock upped its lead to 32 points at 59-27 as Tori Lasker capped off the Trojans' seven-point run with a three. The Cajuns ended the quarter down 62-34 after a 7-3 run.
 
The Trojans took their largest lead of the game in the fourth quarter as they went up by 37 at 73-36 with an 8-0 run — their largest run of the night. Little Rock outscored Louisiana 16-9 in the final quarter of play while shooting 42.9 percent (6-for-14).
 
Lasker ended the game with a career-high six assists while tallying three points and two rebounds. Yanina Inkina had eight points and three rebounds, and Kira Shepard had five points, two rebounds and two assists. Terrion Moore, Keanna Keys and Anna Hurlburt each put up four points.
 
Little Rock ended the game shooting 52.5 percent (31-for-59) — its second-best of the season.
 
The Trojans will continue Sun Belt Conference action on Sunday as it hosts ULM at 2 p.m., at the Jack Stephens Center.