LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Joe Foley coached teams are known for their stifling defense. As the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard at the Jack Stephens Center Thursday evening, Memphis was left gasping for air.
Little Rock (3-1) held Memphis (2-1) without a field goal for the final six minutes of the game and closed things out on a 10-1 run as the host Trojans pulled out the 55-50 win.
It didn't come without drama. Memphis led by as much as six in the final quarter before the Trojans began to chip away at the lead.
Sali Kourouma's second-chance jumper in the paint tied the game with 2:54 left as part of her 32-point night that went along with 10 rebounds as she recorded her first career double-double.
When Memphis sniffed at a chance for a comeback, the long arms of
Dariel Johnson blocked any light of hope for the Tigers. A put back by
Dariel Johnson with 22 seconds left made it a two-possession game. Her third block of the game came 10 seconds later and put to bed any hopes of a Memphis comeback on the night.
The Tigers, tired of seeing Johnson after five-rebound, three-block and two-steal night followed up on her 17-rebound and four-block performance against Memphis a year ago, had no solutions to get around the long arms on her 6-foot-1 frame.
"I just thank God I have these long arms and my length," Johnson said after the game. "Coach Foley put us in a great defensive position to stop them late in the game."
That defensive position included providing enough pressure on Memphis that the Tigers only shot 10% (1-for-10) from the field in the fourth quarter. That came after a third quarter where UM shot 58.3% (7 of 12) and out-scored Little Rock, 20-15.
Little Rock forced 16 Memphis turnovers – thanks to seven Trojan steals – and turned that into 10 points while recording four blocked shots. That left the Tigers constantly searching for solutions especially late in the game.
Part of Kourouma's 32-point performance included an 11-for-14 night (78.6%) at the free throw line thanks to nine drawn fouls by the redshirt sophomore. This marks her third straight game surpassing the 20-point threshold in her offensive output.
Mayra Caicedo was relentless on the court, grabbing a career-high eight rebounds while
Krystan Vornes scored nine points including a crucial free throw in the final 95 seconds of the game.
The win, Little Rock's ninth in its last 10 tries against Memphis, gives the Trojans a 9-8 advantage in the all-time series and hands Memphis its first loss of the season.
Little Rock wraps up its three-game homestand on Wednesday, Nov. 24 as the Trojans host Auburn. Tip-off is set for Noon.
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Notables
- Little Rock now leads the all-time series over Memphis, 9-8. The Trojans have won nine of the last 10 meetings over the Tigers.
- Sali Kourouma recorded her first career double-double with 32 points and 10 rebounds. Both marks are career-highs to date.
- The win marks Joe Foley's 819th career win as a head coach.
- Little rock shot 38.2% from the field, ending a streak of three straight games shooting 40% or better from the field.
- The win extends Little Rock's best start to a season since the 2014-15 campaign (5-0 start).
- Little Rock's four blocks mark a season-high early on in the 2021-22 campaign.
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