TEMPE, Ariz. — Little Rock controlled the matchup from start to finish, using a dominant second half and suffocating defense to roll past San Diego 51–37 on Saturday at Desert Financial Arena.
The Trojans (2–4) set the tone early with hustle plays, quick responses and gritty defense, matching the Toreros step for step through the first two quarters. Guard
Brenna Burk and forwards
Jordan Holman and
Pearson McVay sparked the offense with timely buckets, while Little Rock's pressure forced key first-half turnovers to keep the game tight. The Trojans closed the half on a strong note, taking a 20–16 lead into the break.
Little Rock erupted for 21 third-quarter points, draining 2 of 4 from deep and hitting every free throw while locking San Diego down. Guard
Alaina Payne hit a momentum-shifting 3-pointer that kept the Trojans in control.
Payne followed with a block and a steal, setting the tone for a suffocating defensive stretch. Burk and McVay continued the pressure, combining for key baskets as the Trojans converted six Torero turnovers into points and built a commanding lead.
The Trojans closed the door in the fourth behind clutch buckets from forward
Destinee Salgado and Holman, stretching the margin to as many as 19. Even with San Diego hitting a pair of late 3-pointers, Little Rock's defense never wavered, sealing a 51–37 victory.
"This was a hard-fought win tonight," said head coach
Steve Wiedower. "They played tough man defense, and we had to show a lot of patience on offense. We took good shots, controlled the boards, and limiting turnovers was really big for us."
Holman led the Trojans with 13 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 5 of 10 from the field for her best performance of the season.
"We did a good job taking care of the ball and running our offense," Holman said. "It really boosted our confidence after yesterday's loss."
McVay provided a spark off the bench, finishing with eight points, four rebounds and three steals to help Little Rock control the pace.
Defensively, the Trojans held San Diego to 24% shooting overall (14 of 58), including 4 of 18 from 3-point range, while forcing 19 turnovers and limiting the Toreros' fast-break opportunities. Little Rock scored 11 points off those turnovers.
The Trojans return home to the Jack Stephens Center for their next matchup Tuesday, Dec. 2, against UT Arlington at 7 p.m.
For the latest information on Little Rock Women's Basketball, check out LRTrojans.com. You can also follow the team on social media at @LittleRockwbb on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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