For three quarters, Little Rock had the Arkansas Razorbacks on the ropes in what looked like would be the Trojans' first-ever win over the school from Fayetteville. That was until Arkansas rallied to force overtime, then outscored Little Rock 11-0 in the extra frame to hand the Trojans a 71-60 overtime loss Monday at the Jack Stephens Center. Despite 21 points from Faith Lee, 18 from Sug Williams, and a 16-rebound effort from Emerald Parker, Little Rock fell to 0-7 all-time versus Arkansas.
 
The Trojans (1-1) led by as many as 16 points midway through the third period and held a double-digit lead entering the fourth. But then, the offense went cold while Arkansas (2-1) found its stride. After a 25-point third period by the Trojans, they would go on to score just seven over the final period and overtime. Little Rock shot just 2-of-14 in the fourth and missed all six shot attempts in overtime.

Lee finished with 21 points to go with four rebounds, Williams had 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists, and the redshirt freshman Parker grabbed 10 of her 16 boards on the offensive glass, blocked two shots and added eight points. Jordan Holman had eight points and seven rebounds and Jayla Brooks also had nine rebounds. But, struggles at the free throw line (9-of-22) proved costly while Arkansas converted 14-of-18 from the stripe.
 


 

 

Little Rock held Izzy Higginbottom scoreless in the first half and limited Kiki Smith to just three points before halftime, but the pair would fuel the Razorbacks' comeback as Higginbottom finished with a game-high 24 points (9 in overtime) and Smith 13 of her 16 in the second half. The Trojans opened the game with a 10-0 run and held that lead (28-18) at the half. Little Rock's biggest lead (42-26) came on a layup from Williams at the 6:02 mark of the third, but Arkansas trimmed that down to 11 heading into the fourth.
 
Arkansas put together an 8-0 run to start the fourth, cutting Little Rock's advantage to just three at 55-52 with 5:18 to play and the Razorbacks took their first lead with two minutes left. The Trojans wouldn't make a field goal until 1:23 in the fourth (a drought spanning 7:20), when Williams buried a jumper that tied the score at 60-60 with 1:23 left. She – along with Parker – would have a chance to hit the game-winner, but came up just short.
 
In overtime, Higginbottom converted a jumper, then a triple, and followed with a pair of free throws. After assisting on Arkansas' next bucket, she added another two from the line to close out the scoring.
 
After two home games, Little Rock now hits the road for its next three contests – all against Power 5 schools – starting with a trip to Auburn on Thursday at 7 pm. The Trojans will also play at 10^th-ranked Kansas State next Monday and at Missouri on Nov. 22. Little Rock returns home Nov. 26 against Murray State.