Little Rock returns home Thursday for pivotal matchup with Morehead State

A pair of pivotal conference matchups are on tap this week with the first coming Thursday night when the Little Rock women's basketball team hosts Morehead State at the Jack Stephens Center. The game will tip-off at 5 pm and can be streamed on ESPN+ or heard locally on Sports Animal 920 AM.
 
THE MATCHUP
Little Rock (9-14 overall, 8-4 OVC) currently holds the second-place spot in the conference, but the visiting Eagles (12-11, 7-5) are one of four teams that are just a game behind the Trojans. Little Rock leads the all-time series, 2-0, with both meetings coming last season. The only previous meeting in Little Rock was a 61-46 win by the Trojans last February. Morehead State is just 4-7 on the road this season.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Little Rock held Western Illinois to just 24 percent shooting and four points in the fourth period last Thursday to claim a 50-41 road win in Macomb, Ill. The Leathernecks were able to make just 12-of-50 from the floor and were 0-of-14 in the second period, where all six of their points came at the free throw line. Faith Lee and Jordan Holman each had 10 points to lead Little Rock, while Jaiyah Harris-Smith finished with eight points, six rebounds and six assists. The 41 points allowed is the lowest point total surrendered by the Trojans this season.
 
A LOOK AT THE EAGLES
Morehead State is looking to bounce back from a heartbreaking 4-overtime loss at home to Eastern Illinois, a 105-103 thriller than is now the longest game in OVC history. Hallie Rhodes (26) and Veronica Charles (23) each put up more than 20 points. MSU enters this week's game fifth in the OVC in offense (68.1) and seventh in defense (68.1). The Eagles are eighth in field goal percentage and 10^th in free throw shooting. Charles is sixth individually in scoring (15.8) while Blessing King is second in rebounding (10.9). Charles also ranks second in assists (4.7) and steals (2.9).
 
OVC OUTLOOK
With six games to go before the conference tournament, Southern Indiana is close to locking up the top spot and currently sits at 11-1, followed by Little Rock at 8-4. Western Illinois, Morehead State, UT Martin, and Eastern Illinois are all 7-5, while Tennessee Tech is 6-6.