Trojans Suffer Second Consecutive Conference Loss

JONESBORO, Ark- Ronjanae DeGray notched her seventh double-double of the season, scoring 16 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, but it was not enough as Arkansas State edged the visiting Trojans 62-58, Saturday afternoon in Jonesboro. This would make it two consecutive losses in Sun Belt conference play for top-seeded Little Rock.
 
Head Coach Joe Foley rolled out a brand new starting five for the game, as Antwainette Walker made the first start of her Little Rock career. Yanina Inkina made her first start since Dec. 1 and Teal Battle made her first start since Dec. 21.
 
The Trojans got out to a decent start in the first quarter, shooting 46.7 percent in the opening ten minutes. Inkina earned the start for the rivalry matchup and exploded for nine first-quarter points. Sydney Chastain and Inkina got the Trojans going from beyond the arc, each knocking down a triple in the first half. The Red Wolves kept it close, however, and Little Rock would take a 18-15 lead after the first period.
 
The Trojans struggled in the second quarter as their offense sputtered in the following ten minutes. To start the second period, Little Rock was only two of 12 from the floor and lost the grasp of their lead. Arkansas State closed the half on an 8-2 run and took a 31-27 lead going into halftime.
 
The Red Wolves started the second half on a 12-2 run to pull away and jump out to a 14-point lead. Little Rock would respond with a 13-2 run to get back in the game, using baskets from Ro. DeGray and Kyra Collier to spark the rally. At the end of three quarters, Arkansas State would only hold a one-point lead as the score was 43-42 heading into the final ten minutes.
 
The Trojans gained some momentum early in the fourth quarter when two Ro. DeGray free throws would give them the lead, as the senior would start to take over on the offensive end. A spinning layup from Ro. DeGray made it four consecutive points for the Odessa, Texas native. Back-to-back layups from Collier made the score 53-48, giving the Trojans their biggest lead of the game after a 24-5 run. The Red Wolves got back into the game with an 8-0 run to give themselves a three-point edge with just under two minutes to play. Ro. DeGray scored a layup to bring the Trojans within one and then Tori Lasker split her free throws to tie the game 58-58 just under the one-minute mark. Arkansas State then made then made two free throws to take the lead, and on the following possession, Collier's tough layup in lane just rimmed its way out and Little Rock would suffer its second consecutive loss.
 
On Feb 28., the Trojans will be back at the Jack Stephens Center for an early 11:30 a.m. matchup against Georgia Southern.
 
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