BOX SCORE (PDF)

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Fifth-seeded Little Rock advanced to the Hercules Tires Sun Belt Conference Semifinals for the 14th time in the last 15 years with a 70-58 victory against fourth-seeded App State on Friday at the Pensacola Bay Center. 

The Trojans (17-9) advance to the semifinal round of the Hercules Tires Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Championship where they will face top-seeded Troy. The semifinal game will tip off at 11:30 a.m. CT on Sunday and will be broadcast on ESPN+. 

For the fifth time in the last six years, Little Rock defeated App State in the Hercules Tires Sun Belt Basketball Championship.

The Trojans, who led wire-to-wire, held a sizable 48-25 advantage on the glass. Little Rock shot 41.3 percent (26-of-63) from the field in the game, while App State shot 42.1 percent (24-of-57). 

Little Rock forward Sali Kourouma, a 2022 Second-Team All-Sun Belt Conference honoree, led the way with 24 points, marking her 10th 20-point contest this season. Kourouma also added eight rebounds. 

A pair of Trojans recorded double-doubles on the day as Dariel Johnson brought down a game-high 15 rebounds to complement 10 points, while Angelique Francis had 10 points and 11 boards. Raziya Potter also added 10 points and a game-high seven assists. 

App State (14-12) was led by a career-high 24 points from Faith Alston. Janay Sanders also added 18 points. Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year Alexia Allesch brought down a team-high nine rebounds.