EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — Behind a suffocating defensive effort and a game-high 17 points from
Jordan Holman, Little Rock held off SIUE for a 48–45 Ohio Valley Conference road victory Thursday night at First Community Arena.
The Trojans improved to 8–7 overall and 4–1 in OVC play, extending their winning streak to four games. Little Rock forced 20 SIUE turnovers, converting them into 18 points, and went 11-for-12 at the free-throw line, a key factor in closing out the three-point win.
"We didn't play our best tonight, but we found a way to win," Little Rock head coach
Steve Wiedower said. "Road wins are hard to come by in this league, so we're pleased to get one. We turned the ball over too much, and that's something we'll work to clean up."
Little Rock will continue its road trip Saturday, Jan. 10, traveling just across the river to St. Charles, Mo., to face Lindenwood. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Lindenwood area rival SIUE 84-65 on Tuesday night.
"We know we'll need to play better than we did tonight against a very good Lindenwood team," Wiedower said. "We'll get back to work tomorrow and be ready."
Little Rock established control early, jumping out to an 8–2 lead midway through the first quarter as Holman and
Alaina Payne scored inside and
Mya Cotto added a layup and two free throws. The Trojans' defensive pressure limited SIUE to just nine first-quarter points, allowing Little Rock to take a 16–9 advantage after one.
The Trojans maintained momentum in the second quarter with balanced scoring and disciplined execution. Holman added a jumper and two free throws as part of her 17-point, three-block night, while
Taelor Coxford finished at the rim to help Little Rock carry a 28–20 lead into halftime.
Defense again defined the third quarter, as Little Rock recorded multiple steals and held SIUE to nine points in the period.
Destinee Salgado, who finished with six points, five rebounds, and three steals, came up with a key block and later scored on a layup off a Payne assist. A late basket by
Pearson McVay pushed the Trojans' lead to 37–29 heading into the final 10 minutes.
SIUE closed within one possession in the fourth quarter, but Little Rock answered with poise. Holman knocked down a clutch jumper with 1:25 remaining, then sealed the game with a layup in the final minute. Cotto, who finished with 10 points, went a perfect 4-for-4 at the free-throw line, helping the Trojans protect the lead late.
"We've grown a lot as a team since the start of the season, and it showed late," Holman said. "We stayed poised when we fell behind."
Little Rock finished the night with eight steals, including two from Cotto and two from
Brenna Burk, who also pulled down five rebounds, as the Trojans leaned on defense to secure another road win.
