Little Rock Opens WNIT Play at SMU Thursday

Game 32 | SMU
Tournament	WNIT | Bracket
Round	WNIT First Round
Tip-Off	Thursday, Mar. 16 | 7 p.m. CT
Location	Dallas, Texas
Venue	Moody Coliseum
Watch	ESPN3
Radio	LRSN (920 AM)
Live Stats	Stat Broadcast
Tickets	Click to Purchase
Twitter	@LittleRockWBB
Series History	Series tied, 1-1
Game Notes	Little Rock | SMU | OVC | American

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Little Rock will open postseason play Thursday evening in Dallas as the Trojans will play at SMU in the first round of the WNIT.
 
The game, which will broadcast live on ESPN3, marks the 12^th postseason appearance for Little Rock's Team in a 16-year span, a run that includes six NCAA Tournament appearances with this year being the sixth WNIT appearance. The last time Little Rock was in the WNIT, the Trojans upended Southern Miss in the opening round and were barely clipped by Alabama, 55-53, in Tuscaloosa in a second round game.
 
John Liddle and Brian Burton will have the call on ESPN3 while Trey Schaap will describe the action on the airwaves in the Capital City on the Little Rock Sports Network (920 AM The Sports Animal).
 
Opening Tip

• Little Rock looks to reach the second round of the WNIT for the second time in program history.
• A win would mark the 20th win for Little Rock in the past 23 games.
• The Trojans are holding opponents to just 51.0 ppg (and 46.3 ppg in OVC play). Both marks are the lowest of any OVC team in league history.
• Only three players to face the Trojans this season have recorded five or more assists in a game against Little Rock.
• Little Rock has only allowed more than 60 points once in OVC play this year.
• LR is averaging 1.3 charges drawn per game. Angelique Francis leads the way with 12 drawn charges while Jayla Brooks also has 12.
• The Trojans rank 6th nationally in opposing team assists per game (8.4) and 13th in the country in opposing team steals per game (5.7).

Series History

• Little Rock and SMU will meet for just the third time ever on Thursday and the first meeting between the two teams since 2012.
• Each team has won one game in the series with both teams claiming a road victory.
• Little Rock enters this game with a 1-1 record this season against (former) Southwestern Conference opponents after a win over Texas A&M and a loss to Arkansas.

Five Things to Know

1. We're Baaaaaaack!
   Okay, we know we've been away for far too long. For the first time since the 2018-19 season, Little Rock's Team is back in the postseason. This marks the 12th postseason appearance for Joe Foley's Trojans in the past 20 years with six appearances in the WNIT (including this year) and six NCAA Tournament appearances.
2. WNIT History
   Little Rock is making its sixth appearance in the WNIT and the Trojans are hoping for better fortunes than in years past. LR has posted a 1-5 mark all-time in WNIT play but did secure its first win in the tournament the last time the Trojans participated with a 72-62 win at Southern Miss in 2017.
3. Not a First For All of Us
   Don't think that we're all neophytes at this postseason thing. Not only has Joe Foley coached more postseason games than we can count, but Jaiyah Harris-Smith has a little experience as well. As a transfer from Ole Miss, the sophomore guard went to the NCAA Tournament last season with the Rebels.
4. Back In Her Old Stomping Grounds
   Little Rock may be on the road but expect Trojan guard Jayla Brooks to feel right at home. That is because the junior spent her first collegiate season wearing the Red and Blue for the Mustangs in a supporting role before making a pit stop at Panola JC before joining Little Rock's Team.
5. Familiar Faces
   Just because Little Rock and SMU haven't played in a decade doesn't mean there won't be familiar faces on the other side of the court. SMU's Jasmine Smith joined the Mustangs after three seasons at Rice, facing the Trojans all three years she wore an Owls uniform. The Trojans will look to finally upend her after she's gotten the better of Little Rock the past few times.

A Little Rock Win Would…

• Give Little Rock and Joe Foley a third win in postseason play.
• Keep Little Rock undefeated at Moody Coliseum.
• Send LR to the WNIT Second Round for the second time in school history.
• Give SMU a WNIT First Round loss to an OVC team for the second consecutive year.
• Mark the 20th win in the past 23 tries for Little Rock's Team.
• Move the Trojans 2-5 all-time in WNIT games.
• Register Joe Foley's 855th win as a head coach (but who's counting?).
• Give Joe Foley his 399th win as head coach of the Trojans.
• Be better than a loss.

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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