LITTLE ROCK – Teal Battle dropped a career-high 19 points as Little Rock (2-1) dropped the first game of the season in a 79-65 contest against Rice (1-2) Saturday afternoon.
Battle's 19-point total tops her previous mark of 10 that she set against No. 5 Mississippi State last season. Seven of the sophomore's points came from the charity stripe, also passing a career-high that was previously set against Mississippi State. This is the third straight contest that Little Rock has had a player achieve a career-high scoring figure.
Ronjanae DeGray started the scoring off for the game when she got the ball with her back to the basket in the middle of the lane. She'd take a few dribbles before draining a turnaround one-hander, giving the Trojans the lead that would hold until 4:49 of the first quarter.
A Rice layup would give the Owls a one-point lead and the two teams would trade baskets for the rest of the quarter until three straight three-pointers from Rice would put them up 26-17 at the end of the first quarter.
The Trojans would rally in the second half, clawing back within nine, but Rice's offense was able to keep Little Rock at a distance. The Owls shot 69.2 percent from beyond the arc and 76.9 percent from the charity stripe. Rice's three-point percentage is the highest by a Little Rock opponent since UTA shot 66.7 percent against the Trojans last season.
Little Rock continues its homestand Tuesday, Nov. 20 when it welcomes Texas A&M to the Jack Stephens Center. The game is set to tip off at 6:30 p.m. Fans can purchase their tickets for the matchup with the Aggies, and any other home game this season,
here.
