LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Jordan Holman scored a career-high 29 points and Little Rock dominated the fourth quarter to earn a 73-68 Ohio Valley Conference victory over Morehead State Thursday night at the Jack Stephens Center. The Trojans outscored the Eagles 28-14 in the final period and went 28-for-34 at the free-throw line, using relentless pressure and composure to secure the comeback win.
With the victory, Little Rock improved to 15-14 overall and 11-8 in OVC play, strengthening its position in the conference standings. Little Rock will stay in the fifth spot in the OVC standings and will be the No. 5 seed in next week's OVC Tournament.
Holman led all scorers with 29 points, three three-pointers, and eight rebounds while shooting 12-of-14 from the free-throw line. Destinee Salgado added 13 points and went 5-of-6 at the stripe, while Brenna Burk contributed seven points, five made free throws, and two steals as the Trojans consistently attacked the basket.
"We showed toughness and belief when it mattered most," head coach Steve Wiedower said. "Our players stayed aggressive, got to the free-throw line, and executed down the stretch. That's the kind of response you want to see from your team in a big conference game."
Little Rock battled through a tightly contested first half, with Holman knocking down two early three-pointers and Salgado converting key free throws as the teams finished the first quarter tied, 17-17. The defensive intensity continued into the second quarter, with Holman adding another three in transition and creating turnovers to spark the Trojans. Neither team could gain separation, and the game went into halftime even at 30-30.
Morehead State used a strong third quarter to build momentum, knocking down multiple three-pointers and taking advantage of second chances to claim a 54-45 lead heading into the final period.
The Trojans responded with their most complete stretch of the night. Salgado and Alaina Payne delivered key baskets early in the fourth, and Little Rock's defense forced critical stops to erase the deficit. With the score tied at 62, Salgado knocked down a clutch jumper before Holman took over, converting free throws and attacking the rim to put the Trojans ahead for good. She later added a late layup and two free throws to seal the victory.
"I just stayed confident and trusted my teammates and coaches," Holman said. "We knew if we kept attacking and playing our game, we could come back. Everyone stepped up, and we finished it together."
Little Rock's aggressiveness proved decisive, as the Trojans scored 28 points at the free-throw line and held Morehead State to just 14 points in the fourth quarter.
The Trojans return to action Saturday, Feb. 28, hosting Southern Indiana at 1 p.m. at the Jack Stephens Center. Holman is a graduate student but will be honored along with seniors Alaina Payne and Naomi Smitherman.
