It will be an earlier start for the Little Rock women's basketball team Thursday, but they'll have the same mission. When Little Rock tips off at 11 a.m. at the Jack Stephens Center against Morehead State, it will be seeking their third straight win. The game is tipping off early because of the forecasted heavy snow.
The game can be heard on The Sports Animal 920 with Trey Schaap on the call. ESPN+ will also stream the game.
LAST TIME OUT
Little Rock closed out its second-straight, come-from-behind win of the week with a 67-63 victory at Tennessee State Saturday.
The Trojans fought throughout the third and fourth quarter and were able to grab the lead and keep it late in the game.
Faith Lee led the way with 23 points; her eleventh double-figure game of the season.
Jordan Holman posted 18 points and four rebounds.
Emerald Parker chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds, and
Sug Williams had 10 points and seven rebounds.
EMERALD SHINING BRIGHT
Freshman post player
Emerald Parker scored a career-high 12 points and snagged 8 rebounds in the win over Tennessee State Saturday. She also logged a career-high 30 minutes. The 6-foot-3 freshman from Ruston, La., had a solid game earlier in the week in a win at UT Martin where she totaled 10 points and 7 boards. She had scored 10 points three times before besting her career mark Saturday.
FAST START
During its first season in the OVC, two years ago, Little Rock won its first five league games on its way to a 6-1 start finishing with a 17-1 league record. The Trojans can orchestrate a similar start if they win the next two games to go 5-1.
TAKING THE FREEBIES
The Trojans had a long Christmas break, but that wasn't without crucial practice on free throws, and it seems to be paying off. Against Tennessee State, the team had a season-high 90.5% free throws (19-21) that held off the Tigers. Little Rock broke their previous high versus UT Martin with 84.2% (16-19).
THE SERIES
Little Rock leads 2-1. The only three meetings have come since the Trojans joined the OVC two years ago. The Trojans won the first two meetings in 2023 but lost 50-47 at the Jack Stephens Center last season.
MOREHEAD STATE: FIRST LOOK
In late October, it was announced that Eagles third-year head coach Cayla Petree was no longer with the program. Chris Palmer, who was hired as an assistant coach in June, became the interim head coach as the season was to begin.
The Eagles are trying to shake off a rough start as they have lost three of their first four games, including a 102-63 home loss to UT Martin. The Eagles rebounded in a 68-51 home win over Tennessee State, and then lost to decisively to Southern Indiana and Tennessee Tech on the road.
The Eagles are led by 5-foot-9 sophomore guard Kate Novik, who is averaging 14.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Aileen Marquez, a 5-8 senior guard, is averaging 10.8 ppg followed by graduate student guard Harley Paynter with 8.8 ppg and 5-7 freshman guard Chrishawn Coleman with 8.7.
