Little Rock women's basketball back home to host Lindenwood for "School Day" contest

Little Rock and Lindenwood will clash Thursday morning in a special "School Day" contest, open to students from area schools with the contest tipping off at 11:30 am inside the Jack Stephens Center. The game cane be streamed on ESPN+ with JB Brazeal and Dorian Craft on the call and heard locally on Sports Animal 920 AM, called by Trey Schaap. Season ticket holders in attendance are invited and encouraged to sit on the Coaches Row, Baseline Club, and courtside seats for the contest.
 
THE MATCHUP
Little Rock (5-12, 4-2 OVC) and Lindenwood (3-13, 1-5 OVC) meet for just the third time ever with both previous meetings taking place last season, the Trojans' first in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Trojans took both previous contests, wining 64-50 in St. Charles, Mo. and 62-38 at the Jack Stephens Center. After Thursday's contest, the teams will meet again this season on Feb. 24 at Lindenwood.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Little Rock's most recent outing was last Thursday (Jan. 18) at Southern Indiana, where the Trojans managed just 30 percent shooting and fell to the Screaming Eagles, 58-48, in Evansville, Ind. Jayla Brooks was the high scorer with 11 points, followed by Leilani Wimbish-Gay with 10. Jaiyah Harris-Smith finished with four points, four assists and eight rebounds. The Trojans were outscored 31-20 in the second half.
 
A LOOK AT THE LIONS
Lindenwood has lost seven of its last eight games coming into Thursday's contest with their lone win during that span coming Jan. 18 vs SIUE (79-73). The Lions are 0-9 on the road this season, including 0-3 during conference play. In conference play, Lindenwood ranks sixth in scoring offense (68.0) but ninth in scoring defense, surrendering 74.8 points per game. They rank dead last (11^th) in field goal percentage defense (49.5%) and ninth in rebounding margin (-5.7). The Lions' roster is the youngest in the OVC, with nine freshmen, four juniors and one graduate student. Head coach Amy Eagan is in her first year with the program. Freshman Ellie Brueggemann is the leading scorer at 14 points per game, Justis Odom leads in rebounds (3.3) and Makayla Wallace in assists (3.0).
 
A LOOK AT THE TROJANS
Last week's loss at Southern Indiana snapped a three-game win streak by Little Rock, but the Trojans have won two in a row at home. Little Rock is 2-5 at home this season, 2-0 in conference play. Offensively, the Trojans rank 10^th in scoring offense (62.3) but second in scoring defense (59.0). They are seventh in FG percentage defense but lead the conference in turnover margin and are second in assist-turnover ratio and third in steals. Little Rock boasts three of the top 20 scorers in the OVC during conference play – Faith Lee (sixth, 15.8), Brooks (11^th, 14.3) and Wimbish-Gay (14^th, 13.7). Sug Williams ranks ninth in rebounds (6.8), and Harris-Smith is second in assists (5.5).