Saturday, February 28
UALR Claims Sun Belt Regular Season Title with Win over UT Arlington
ARLINGTON, Texas – With Arkansas State’s loss at Texas State earlier in the day Saturday, the UALR women’s basketball team clinched at least a share of the Sun Belt regular-season championship for the third time in school history without even having to play.
But these Trojans wanted more than a share. They wanted the whole thing.
UALR defeated UT Arlington 48-38 at College Park Center on Saturday evening, winning the Sun Belt regular-season championship outright for the first time in school history and earning the conference tournament’s top seed.
“It’s always awesome when you win a championship,” UALR coach Joe Foley said. “It means your kids have really done a good job and worked hard. We’ve pushed this bunch extremely hard. They had to do it with their defense, and that’s tough. They’ve fought with a lot of heart, a lot of class, and I’ve enjoyed coaching them.”
The Trojans shared a league regular-season title in 2010 and 2011, but this is the team’s first time ever claiming the championship all alone.
The victory also guarantees UALR a spot in the national postseason for the seventh time under Foley's tenure. The top seed in the conference tournament earns an automatic berth to the WNIT if it does not win the league tournament and is not offered an at-large spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Saturday’s result – and the league title – was in doubt until the final minutes. The Trojans had led by as many as 12 points early in the second half, but the Mavericks’ defense halted the Trojans’ scoring after that while they slowly got back into the game. UALR’s lead was 41-38 with 5:16 to play, and the team had made just one field goal in the previous eight minutes.
But from there, the Trojans’ defense took over. The Mavericks missed their last five field-goal attempts and committed three turnovers in the last five minutes while UALR got four free throws from Taylor Gault and an unlikely swish of a 3-pointer from Shanity James – her second of the night. That 7-0 run over the final five minutes sealed the game and the league championship
“UTA didn’t score for about four or five possessions,” Foley said. “We took a timeout, and we had to challenge [our players]. We said, ‘Hey guys, we’ve got to get some stops. Get yourselves a breather. We’ve got to get some stops.’ That’s exactly what they did. That exemplifies our season right there.”
The Trojans (24-4, 17-2 Sun Belt) were led in scoring by 12 points each from Ka'Nesheia Cobbins and James. James got 6 of her points on two 3-pointers, just the second and third 3-pointers of her three-year UALR career. UT Arlington (15-12, 9-9) got a double-double from Rebekah Van Dijk, but that was not enough as the UALR defense held the Mavs under 40 points for the second time this season.
Alexius Dawn led UALR with five assists, while Cobbins had four and Gault had three. Clark and James had two blocks apiece, while Cobbins and Kaitlyn Pratt topped the Trojans with three steals each.
The win also gives UALR a sweep in the regular-season series against UTA and ties the school record with 17 conference wins. The Trojans have reached 24 wins overall for the first time since 2012-13 and have won four in a row against the Mavericks.
The Mavericks had a good offensive start to the day, scoring 8 points in the first four minutes. But over the next four, UTA was unable to get a point on the board as UALR forced turnovers and built a 13-8 lead heading into the second media timeout.
The Mavericks’ scoreless streak wound up stretching six minutes before a layup got them back on the scoreboard, but the Trojans’ lead was 18-10 at that point thanks to a 9-0 run. Included in that 9-0 run was a 3-pointer by James off the backboard, just her second career 3-pointer but her second in three games.
As the half wound down, UALR found its lead stayed at 8 points. James finished the half shooting 4 of 4 from the field to lead all players with 9 points, and Dawn earned a game-high four assists at the break. No Trojan had more than three rebounds at halftime, but the team forced 11 Mavericks turnovers and scored 15 points off them.
The second half started slow for the Trojans, but a 3-pointer from Dawn three minutes in got the offense going. UALR built a 12-point lead with 12 minutes left in the game, but that’s when the Mavericks started shutting down the Trojans’ offense.
Two Cobbins free throws were the Trojans’ only points for an eight-minute stretch, and the Mavericks’ first 3-pointer of the night with 5:16 on the clock closed the gap to 41-38. That’s when UALR’s defense redoubled its efforts and put the game away.
Dawn ended the night with 8 points, and Gault had the same number. Kiera Clark hit three midrange jumpers to reach six points on the night. Pratt added six rebounds to finish second on the team. UALR shot just 19 percent from the field in the second half but finished shooting 40.5 percent. The Trojans had 10 fast-break points and 20 points off turnovers. The team led for 38 minutes and 50 seconds of the 40-minute game.
With the top seed for the Sun Belt Conference Tournament secured, that means UALR knows the time of its would-be tournament games. The Trojans will face the league’s No. 8 seed on March 11 at 11:30 a.m. in the tournament quarterfinals. That opponent could still be one of three teams: Appalachian State, ULM or Georgia State. UALR has swept the season series with all three of those teams.
With a win in the quarterfinals, UALR would play in the semifinals against the No. 4/5 seed at 11:30 a.m. on March 13. The league championship game is scheduled for March 14 at 7 p.m.
The regular season comes to an end for UALR on the road next week as the Trojans will travel to Lafayette, La., for a matchup with the Ragin’ Cajuns. The teams are set for a 5 p.m. tipoff Thursday at the Cajun Dome.
Troy Wins Seventh Consecutive as Season End Draws Near
TROY, Alabama – The Troy women's basketball team never trailed and won its seventh straight game, beating Georgia State, 88-75, on Saturday afternoon at Trojan Arena. Troy won its seventh straight for the first time since 1992-93 and did so on Senior Day as four Trojans closed their Trojan Arena career with wins.
Troy (19-9, 14-5) had five players score in double figures, led by Ronita Garrett's 17 points. Garrett, a senior, also posted 10 rebounds for her 20th double-double of the season, by far the most in the Sun Belt. Aissata Maiga, a senior, posted 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
Kourtney Coleman, the third senior dressed for the game, finish just shy of double figures with eight points. Brianna Lancaster, the fourth senior, has missed the last 11 games with an injury.
The Trojans forced Georgia State (12-15, 7-11) into 26 turnovers, scoring 40 points off of them. Garrett and Coleman joined Caitlyn Ramirez with game-highs of four steals each for the Trojans who had 19 steals as a team.
It took Troy just over five minutes to taka double-digit lead as the Trojans led 15-3 with 14:34 to go in the first half. Over that span, Troy held Georgia State to 1-of-4 shooting with five turnovers. Troy held Georgia State to 27 percent shooting (8-of-30) in the first half and led by 18 points, 43-25, at the break.
Ashley Beverly-Kelley scored 11 of her 15 points in the first half as Troy shot just 37 percent (14-of-38) but scored 20 of its 43 points off of Georgia State turnovers.
The Panthers rebounded to shoot 63 percent (20-of-32) in the second half, but never cut the deficit to less than 12 points, which they did at 66-54 with 9:47 to play. From there, Troy went on a 12-4 run to push the lead to 20 points, 78-58, with 6:47 to go.
Rachel Reid capped the run with a layup and finished the game with 10 points off of the Troy bench. Ramirez was the fifth Trojan to score in double figures as she posted 12 points to go along with a team-high five assists.
"Tonight we wanted to send the seniors out with a win," Troy head coach Chanda Rigby said. "We also wanted to play a lot of people and begin to prepare to be our best down the stretch. Those goals were met so it was a successful night."
Every available Trojan played at least five minutes and every Troy player also scored on the night. Troy remains in third place in the Sun Belt standings, but now sits just half a game behind second place Arkansas State who lost at Texas State on Saturday.
Georgia State got a game-high 23 points form Makeba Ponder, including 5-of-8 from long range. She hit all but two of Georgia State's seven pointers as the Panthers shot over 50 percent (7-of-13) from long range. Troy struggled from deep, hitting just 4-of-27 (14.8 percent).
Troy shot 43 percent (32-of-75) for the game while Georgia State hit 45 percent (28-of-62). The Panthers outrebounded Troy, 42-40, after the Trojans held a 25-22 advantage at the break. Troy committed 15 turnovers while forcing Georgia State into 26.
The Trojans return to the court on Saturday when they travel to South Alabama for the regular season finale. The Trojans will be looking for the fourth 20-win season in the program's 40-year history when they take to the court at the Mitchell Center at 2 p.m.
Texas State Knocks Off Arkansas State for Monumental Win
SAN MARCOS, Texas – On Senior Day, the Texas State women's basketball team defeated the Arkansas State Red Wolves by a score of 83-74, a victory that could be argued as the best victory of the season for the Bobcats. Texas State took a 6-0 lead to start the contest and never looked back. The Bobcats improve to 16-11 overall and 11-7 in conference play.
The victory against the Red Wolves clinched a spot in the upcoming Sun Belt Conference tournament, scheduled to take place March 11-15 in New, Orleans, La.
Four Bobcats finished the game with double-digit points, led by junior guard Erin Peoples who added 17 for Texas State. Ayriel Anderson and Taeler Deer each contributed 16 and senior Meghan Braeuer scored 14. All 16 of Anderson's points occurred in the second half of play.
Freshman Ericka May got the ball rolling for the Bobcats with a three-pointer in the left corner with 17:49 left in the first. Texas State would then jump out to a 21-12 lead over the visiting Red Wolves, capped by a jumper by Braeuer.
The Bobcats never let up in the first half as they proceeded to head into the locker room with a 42-26 lead over Arkansas State. The 42 points scored by the Bobcats was highest amount scored in a half since Texas State scored 46 against Texas A&M International in the first game of the season.
Texas State finished the half on 17-for-29 shooting from the floor and 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. Deer led the Bobcats throughout the first half with 12 points. Anderson dished out five assists for Texas State.
Out of the intermission, Texas State continued to build its lead over the Red Wolves. With 15:02 left in the game, a free throw by senior Jacqueline Jeffcoat put the Bobcats up at its largest lead of 22.
A lay-up by Preseason All-Conference favorite Aundrea Gamble sparked a run for Arkansas State that would chip away at the Bobcat lead. The Red Wolves used the next 11 minutes to whittle away the Bobcat lead to as little as two points. Texas State answered the threat with a 9-2 run to bring its lead back up to seven with 44 seconds remaining.
The Bobcats scored the final four points at the free throw line to ultimately defeat the second-ranked Sun Belt Conference squad by nine on Senior Day.
Texas State finished the game shooting 50.9 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from three-point range. The Bobcats continued its solid shooting from the charity stripe, making 17 baskets on 21 trips.
The Bobcats defense was response for holding Arkansas State to just 37.5 percent from the floor, a team that leads the conference with a mark of 45.6 percent. Texas State also recorded six blocks and six steals on the day.
Appalachian State Runs by UL Monroe
BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's basketball got a win over UL Monroe on Saturday with a score of 80-61 at the Holmes Center.
The Mountaineers (13-14, 8-10 Sun Belt) trailed for most of the first half, but came back strong in the second to defeat the Warhawks (11-16, 7-11).
The beginning of the game featured three tied scores until UL Monroe took a 9-7 lead at the 15:19 minute mark. From there the Mountaineers struggled to score as the Warhawks went on a 10-0 run to lead 17-7 with 10:47 to play in the first half.
Maryah Sydnor would end Appalachian's drought with a jumper at the 8:49 minute mark, but UL Monroe responded with two points of their own, leading 19-9.
The Apps began to regain composure, going on a 9-3 run. Trailing 25-18 with 5 minutes left the Apps took control, taking a 28-27 lead off a 10-2 run, featuring six points from Ashley Bassett-Smith.
App State led the Warhawks at the half, 32-31.
Sydnor led the Mountaineer with 12 points in the first, while the team shot 38.7 percent from the floor.
UL Monroe was led by Alayshia Hunter's seven points as the team recorded a 48.0 percent field goal percentage.
The Mountaineers returned from the halftime break on fire as Farrahn Wood hit a three-pointer and Bria Carter got a layup just one minute into play. The Warhawks converted on a free throw, but Madi Story responded for the Apps with a basket from behind the arc as the team took a 40-32 lead.
At the 14:47 minute mark Story sparked a Mountaineer run as she scored seven-straight points, helping the Apps lead 51-39.
UL Monroe scored four points in response, but App continued to find baskets, as Bassett-Smith and Bria Huffman combined for ten-straight points.
With Appalachian leading 66-46 and eight minutes to play the Warhawks went on a 7-2 run, but Bassett-Smith, Huffman, Sydnor, Story and Joi Jones all contributed to a 12-3 run for Appalachian as the team closed out the game with a final score of 80-61.
Four players scored in double-figures as Sydnor led with 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Huffman recorded 14 points and six rebounds and Bassett-Smith tallied 14 points and seven rebounds.
Story added a career-high of 14 points, shooting 6-8 from the floor and finding two steals. Carter grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds, while Jones dished out six assists in the win.
The Mountaineers shot 45.5 percent from the field, recording 50 rebounds and 14 turnovers.
UL Monroe was led by Olivia Countiss' 12 points, while the team tallied a field goal percentage of 34.5. The Warhawks had 36 rebounds and 14 turnovers.
App State returns to action when they host Texas State on Thursday, March 5 at 5 p.m.
Cajuns Earn Tournament Berth with Win over Georgia Southern
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team's inside game coupled with points off turnovers paved the way for a 62-35 victory over Georgia Southern on Saturday at the Cajundome.
Louisiana (18-9, 10-8 Sun Belt) attempted just eight three-pointers and produced 40 points inside the arc. The Cajuns forced Georgia Southern (4-23, 1-17 Sun Belt) into 29 turnovers and collected 26 points off those miscues.
Keke Veal scored a game-high 20 points while Kia Wilridge joined her in double figures with 12 points to lead the charge for the Ragin' Cajuns who took sole possession of fifth place in the Sun Belt standings entering the final week of play.
Louisiana closed the first half on a 5-2 run to claim a 29-20 advantage. The Cajuns then held the Eagles to 10 points through 5:00 of the second stanza, outscoring them 30-10, to put the game out of reach.
The Ragin' Cajuns reached 10 conference victories for the first time since 2006-07.
Louisiana is set to close out its home schedule on Thursday, March 5 hosting Sun Belt-leading UALR (24-4, 17-2 Sun Belt) at 5 p.m.. The Cajuns then wrap up the regular season on Saturday, March 7 at Arkansas State (19-9, 14-4 Sun Belt).
Veal reached 20 points for the third time in the past four games and finished four off her season high (24 vs. Texas State, Feb. 19).
UL forced the opposition into 20-plus turnovers for the 19th time in 27 outings. The Cajuns pressured the Eagles into 18 second half turnovers, generating 17 points off the mistakes in the decisive half.
Wilridge hit a pair of baskets at 15:31 and 15:14 of the first half to break a 4-all tie and give Louisiana a lead it would not relinquish.
The Eagles cut the lead to 8-6 following a Sierra Kirkland basket at 14:09, but the Cajuns reeled off eight unanswered for their first double digit lead of the contest.
GASO pulled within six points, 24-18, at 1:11 on a Patrice Butler field goal. Jaylyn Gordon answered as she attempted the Cajuns first three-point shot of the game and connected increasing the lead to 27-18.
Louisiana scored five points in the first 25 seconds of the second stanza, using a Simone Fields three-point play at 19:43 and Gordon layup at 19:35 to stretch the lead to 34-20.
The Cajuns took control with a 10-2 run during a three-minute span that created the first 20-point lead, 44-24, with 14:38 remaining.
UL held GASO to two field goals and forced seven turnovers over an eight-minute span starting at 13:03 and as a result were doubling up the Eagles, 56-28, with 5:17 on the clock.
The teams traded scores in the final five minutes. The Cajuns largest lead was 29 points, the first time coming after Gordon's second triple of the night made it 59-30.