Little Rock Dominates Boards, Advances to Semifinals with 70-58 Win over App State

PENSACOLA, Fla. – For the 14^th time in 15 years, Little Rock is headed to the semifinals of the Sun Belt Tournament. The Trojans used a dominating 48-25 rebounding advantage in a 70-58 win over App State in the Sun Belt Tournament quarterfinal round Friday.
 
Dariel Johnson (10 points, 15 rebounds) and Angelique Francis (10 points, 11 rebounds) both posted double-doubles as they led the rebounding effort and the duo was responsible for 10 of Little Rock's 18 offensive rebounds. It marked the fourth time this season that the Trojans (17-9) recorded 45 or more rebounds in a game.
 
While Johnson and Francis both scored in double figures, Sali Kourouma led that category with a game-high 24 points. Raziya Potter added 10 points and seven assists to go along with her two steals, both of which she immediately returned with a layup.
 
Little Rock led wire-to-wire but App State (14-12) was hardly ever out of it. The Mountaineers rallied back from a 12-point third quarter deficit to tie the game at 49-49 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. But that is when Little Rock responded with a 6-0 run to pull away before the end of the quarter, a lead that App State found to be insurmountable.
 
The Trojans' late third quarter run was matched in scoring and by rebounds as the Maroon and Silver grabbed six boards, preventing App State's efforts to swing the momentum back to their side.
 
That inability to stop Little Rock's offensive prowess – despite Third Team All-Sun Belt point guard Mayra Caicedo on the bench most of the second half in foul trouble – thwarted any App attempt at a comeback. The Mountaineers couldn't get any closer than four in the final frame and Little Rock out-scored App, 8-1, over the final 90 seconds to seal the win. Caicedo finished the game with seven points and three assists.
 
App State, which was eliminated in the Sun Belt Tournament by Little Rock for the fifth time in six years, was led by Faith Alston's 24 points while Janay Sanders scored 18. Alexia Allesch, the Sun Belt's Newcomer of the Year, was held to four points although she grabbed nine rebounds.
 
Little Rock now advances to semifinal Sunday where the Trojans will meet Troy. Tip-off is set for 11:30 a.m. and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and over the airwaves in central Arkansas on 920 AM The Sports Animal.
 
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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