Little Rock Hosts UT Martin at Simmons Bank Arena In OVC Debut

Game 12 | UT Martin
Tip-Off	Thursday, Dec. 29 | 5 p.m.
Location	Little Rock, Ark.
Venue	Simmons Bank Arena
Radio	LRSN (920 AM)
Live Stats	Live Stats
Tickets	Available at Simmons Bank Arena
Twitter	@LittleRockWBB
Series History	UTM leads, 3-1
Game Notes	Little Rock | UT Martin | OVC

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Little Rock last tipped off a women's basketball game a week ago but what a week it has been. An historic winter storm, a burst coil, a court moisture level that became untenable and a new venue all culminates in the Trojans hosting their first-ever Ohio Valley Conference game at Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock Thursday evening.
 
Tip-off for the first game in a women's-men's doubleheader is at 5 p.m. and the abrupt change of venue, prompted by a burst coil and the overarching belief that mere wood cannot hold up against Joe Foley's name, has resulted in no ESPN+ broadcast. However, Trojan fans can still catch the action on the Little Rock Sports Network (920 AM) over the air, on the website and on the app.
 
Game Information | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Location: Simmons Bank Arena
TV/Video: None
Radio: LRSN (920 AM)
Live Stats: Available through TrojanStats.com.
Student Info: Concession vouchers for students will be honored at stands 108 and 109.
Cashless Venue: Simmons Bank Arena is a cashless facility, so fans will need to plan accordingly.
Clear bag policy will remain in effect and walk-through metal detectors will be utilized.
 
Series History

• This will be just the fifth meeting between the Trojans and the Skyhawks in a series that dates back to the 1978-79 season.
• Little Rock's only win in the series occurred in Pulaski County.
• The last time these two teams played, Alicia Cash wore a Trojans uniform. She's now in her 14th season on staff.
• While these two teams have met on four prior occasions, this will be the first meeting between the two in OVC play.
• UT Martin has never played a game at the Jack Stephens Center.

 
Five Things to Know

1. Brand New Opponent? Or Super-Secret Opponent?
   According to the record books and on the face of things, Thursday's contest against Little Rock and UT Martin is the first real meeting since the 2003-04 season, when Joe Foley was in his first year guiding the Trojans. But in a super-secret hush-hush turn of events, this is approximately the eighth consecutive season the two programs will face each other on the hardwood. The Trojans and the Skyhawks have been each other's super-secret scrimmage partners in each of the past seven seasons, but don't tell the NCAA that because the games never existed. Because they didn't. Or did they? We'll never tell.
2. Bank On It
   Thursday's game at Simmons Bank Arena marks the first time since 2019 that the Trojans have played at Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock and the first time since 2005 that Little Rock will be the host team at the North Little Rock venue. This time, however, it is due to a facility issue at the Jack Stephens Center. The Trojans are 8-19 all-time at Simmons Bank Arena (formerly Verizon Wireless Arena and Alltel Arena) while Joe Foley is 0-2 all-time coaching at the facility.
3. Feeling Right at Home
   If Angelique Francis enters the game Thursday with a determined look on her face, watch out because history might repeat itself. The last time the Trojan forward played on the court at Simmons Bank Arena, it was her freshman season as Little Rock faced the Razorbacks and the then-freshman was a force to contend with, rattling off what remains a career-high 15 points, a mark she matched last January at South Alabama.
4. Trojans In Conference Openers
   Little Rock has won eight straight conference openers but its fortunes in the first league game of the season has been a recent wave of success. Overall, Little Rock is 12-15 all-time in conference openers while compiling a 12-11 record in Sun Belt openers. Joe Foley, currently in his 20th season at the helm of the program, has guided Little Rock to a 12-7 mark in league openers. The last time Little Rock lost its conference opener came on Jan. 2, 2014 in San Marcos when Texas State claimed a 50-39 win.
5. Jack Squat
   That is UT Martin's experience at the Jack Stephens Center. The Skyhawks will have to wait another season to experience the premiere facility in the OVC as this is their first visit to the Capital City since the 2003-04 season, when Little Rock's Team played a majority of their games at Trojan Fieldhouse. Thursday's game marks only the second time that UT Martin has visited Little Rock.

 
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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