The Little Rock women's basketball team started 2024 with its best performance of the season, rolling over SIUE on Thursday by a 79-59 score at the Jack Stephens Center. The Trojans (3-11, 2-1 OVC) tied their season-high for points scored, forced a season-high 25 turnovers, and committed a season-low five while leading by as many as 26 in the contest. That margin is their largest lead of the season.
Jayla Brooks matched her career-high with 25 points on 5-of-7 shooting from behind the arc. Brooks also added six rebounds, four assists and two steals in a dominant effort.
Leilani Wimbish-Gay – winner of two straight OVC Newcomer of the Week awards – established a new career high with 18 points and grabbed four rebounds to go with three blocks and three assists.
Faith Lee scored 18 points while hitting 8-of-10 free throws and
Tia Harvey made a huge impact even further than the stat sheet while adding nine points and four assists. Little Rock shot 45 percent from the floor (25-of-56), 43 percent from long range (6-of-14) and made a season-high 23 free throws, eclipsing their previous high total of 15.
Sug Williams added six points, seven rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals.
The Cougars (3-13, 0-3 OVC) were plagued not only by 25 turnovers, but poor shooting from deep, connecting on just 5-of-19 three-point shots (26 percent). Molly Sheehan and Brianna Wooldridge each had 15 for SIUE, while Halle Smith added 13 points.
Little Rock will be home again Saturday when it hosts Eastern Illinois (5-10, 2-0 OVC) in the Jack Stephens Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 pm and the game can be streamed on ESPN+.
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