Kourouma Drops 30 as Trojans Sweep Series over Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – At the end of the first quarter, Vanderbilt was searching for answers on how to stop Little Rock's Sali Kourouma. Thirty minutes later, they were still had no solution.
 
Kourouma, in just her second game in a Little Rock uniform, scored 30 points and kept the host Commodores (1-1) at bay in a 56-40 win for the Trojans (1-1) at Vanderbilt. That included an 11-point outburst by Kourouma in the first quarter to go along with a 9-for-16 performance from the field and hitting 10 of 12 free throws in a dominating performance.
 
The win gives Little Rock a sweep of the home-and-home series with Vanderbilt that began with an 82-74 win last season in Little Rock. It marked the second straight day a Sun Belt team had toppled a program from the Southeastern Conference after Georgia Southern beat Auburn Thursday night. Auburn visits Little Rock on Nov. 24.
 
Little Rock shot 40 percent from the field for the second straight game but even more impressive was the Trojans defense which turned 20 Vanderbilt turnovers into 22 points. The Maroon and Silver further punished the Commodores, going to the line eight times and connecting on 13 of 16 free throw attempts (81.3 percent).
 
Kourouma scored 15 points in her Little Rock debut and doubled that output Friday night against Vanderbilt. She was perfect from the free throw line for three quarters, going 10 of 12 from the charity stripe overall.
 
Mayra Caicedo scored eight points and dished out five assists while Dariel Johnson and Krystan Vornes both scored six. Angelique Francis led the Trojans in rebounds with six. The tall Trojans controlled the pace of play in the paint, out-scoring Vandy 24-14 in that zone.
 
Vanderbilt struggled against Little Rock's man defense the entire night, shooting just 32.7 percent (16 of 49) from the field. But it was the repeated errs from the Dores from long range that plagued Vandy as they made just five of 22 shots from beyond the arc (22.7 percent).
 
The Commodores only held the lead once, for a mere 3:06 in the second quarter, marking the first time the Dores have ever held a lead over Little Rock. Twice during the game – once in each half – Little Rock held the hosts scoreless over a four-minute span including a 10-0 run in the second quarter that sent the Trojans into the locker room at half time with a 40-29 lead.
 
Brylee Bartram led Vanderbilt with 11 points while Brinae Alexander scored seven and added six rebounds.
 
Little Rock returns to action next week when the Trojans begin a three-game home stand as UAPB visits the Jack Stephens Center Tuesday evening.
 
For the latest information on Little Rock Basketball, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockWBB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
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Notables

• Little Rock is now 2-0 all-time against Vanderbilt.
• Sali Kourouma's 30 points ties for 25^th most by a player in a game in school history.
• The 30 points by Kourouma are the most by a Sun Belt player against a Division I opponent this season.
• Angelique Francis grabbed a season-high six rebounds.
• Raziya Potter made her first career start in a Little Rock jersey.

 
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