UALR too Much for SAU

By: Houston Taylor

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Visiting Southern Arkansas jumped out to a 6-0 advantage and held an 8-2 edge with four minutes gone, but NCAA Division I University of Arkansas at Little Rock recovered quickly in cruising to a 72-43 win Tuesday at the Jack Stephens Center.

Junior guard Goldie White (Hampton) led the early Lady Mulerider charge, scoring six of their first eight points, but Anshel Cooper hit a jumper for the first two of her game-high 27 points to provide the game’s second tie (12-12) at 10:03. Junior guard Aralee Smith’s (Greenwood/Idaho State) three-pointer at 4:13 pulled SAU to within 26-21, but that would be their final bucket as UALR (2-0) used a 15-0 run to close out the first half with a 41-21 margin.

Southern Arkansas (0-2) would only get as close as junior forward Shardae Thompson’s (Star City) jumper to start the second frame as the Lady Trojans stretched the lead out. They eventually held a 36-point spread (72-36) on Cooper’s lay-up at 3:09. The Lady Muleriders closed the scoring out with a 7-0 run.

UALR’s defensive game held their visitors in check as they forced 22 SAU turnovers and converted them into 34 points. They also got off 20 more shots than the Lady Muleriders, shooting 31 of 67 from the floor for 46.3 percent. Southern Arkansas was 17 of 47 (36.2). The Lady Trojans attempted only three treys, hitting one, while the Lady Muleriders were 2 of 6. UALR was 9 of 15 (60.0) at the free throw line, while SAU connected on all seven of its attempts.

Cooper knocked down 12 of 15 shots from her guard position and all three of her free throws in posting her 27 points. She had help from Chastity Reed, who tallied a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Marian Kursh who finished with 12 points.

White led Southern Arkansas with 17 points, but suffered 10 turnovers for the second consecutive game. Freshman forward Kmaria Hobbs (Clarksville, Texas) recorded her first double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. The Lady Muleriders used nine players, but only their five starters attempted all 47 shots from the floor.

The Lady Trojans held a 39-30 rebound advantage and out-scored SAU 42-10 inside.

UALR’s win snapped a three-game losing streak against Southern Arkansas that dated back to the 1984-85 season. The two teams had not played a regular season game since SAU won twice in the ’85-’86 season. The Lady Muleriders hold a 16-6 advantage in the series.

Southern Arkansas is opening its season with four consecutive road games and that continues this weekend in Cleveland, Miss., at the Delta State Margaret Wade Memorial Classic. They face North Georgia College & State on Friday before squaring off against West Florida on Saturday. Tip-off for both games is at 4 p.m.