BASKETBALL V. SOUTHERN INDIANA

MAESTRO JOE ORCHESTRATES WIN #850 (WBB)

The Lady Trojans dictated the pace as the game against the University of Southern Indiana was close on the scoreboard, but didn’t feel as such during play.

Junior forward Sali Kourouma was a physical phenomenon as she battled for 12 rebounds and 18 points inside the arc.

To add to that, she was a defensive menace forcing multiple missed shots, two of which were blocks.

In addition, junior guard Tia Harvey and freshman forward Faith Lee poured in 15 and 11 points to propel their team to the No. 1 seed in the Ohio Valley Conference. Here is a breakdown of how this came to be.

The game started with a turnover as the Trojans won the tipoff, but it sailed out of bounds.

They were able to get it back, and Kourouma began her impressive game with a forceful shot over USI’s Vanessa Shafford.

The Screaming Eagles would answer right back and that was how it continued, albeit through tough defense from players like senior forward Angelique Francis.

Foley’s offense led to more high percentage shots and while the conversion rate wasn’t high, it was a sign that UA Little Rock looked more comfortable tonight, and coupled with their defensive pressure, it was a brutal night for USI.

Physicality and frustration were main courses as there were five technical fouls issued during the matchup, four of them belonging to USI and both teams with abysmal performances outside of the perimeter 20% and 0% respectively.

UALR forced 21 turnovers and converted them to 25 points, 15 of them on the fastbreak. In comparison, USI ended up with just 15 and 12 respectively with a single fastbreak point.

UALR pushed the pace in the fourth quarter allowing only four points from the field and two from the line while USI gave up six in both categories slamming the door on USI in a 58-50 victory for the home team.

When a coach dials up a grueling game plan such as this one, fouls are usually in abundance, but a lack of them here revealed both a great teaching of his system, and a tremendous buy-in effort from the team.

HEARTBREAK IN THE HEART OF THE CITY (MBB)

As for the men’s game, both teams played their hearts out.

Senior forward DeAntoni Gordon, sophomore forward Nigel John, graduate guard CJ White, senior guard Isaiah Palermo and sophomore guard D.J. Smith all turned in double digit performances. In terms of overall efficiency, Gordon’s 20 points were the most efficient at 62% from the field and 66% from the line.

Palermo was right behind him with 75% from the field and 50% from the free-throw line.

When it comes to close games like this, the stat sheet does not look much different for either team.

However, the glaring difference were the overall points left at the line. USI converted seven of 15 attempts while UALR converted 13 of 20.

With the game ending 81 to 82 in favor of USI, a few more of those shots at the line could’ve made all the more difference.

The crowd was still treated to an impressive effort from both teams, especially from the Screaming Eagles center.

USI’s Jacob Polakovich scored 27 points on 85% from the field along with 10 rebounds.

Accompanying him were the likes of Isaiah Swope with 21 points on 57%, and both Jelani Simmons with 21 points and Trevor Lakes with 11 points on 44%.

In the end, UALR had a chance to win the game, but the ball would come out after a slip from White, and after a scramble, there was a travel call on USI.

BY KATE BENNE

Officials placed the final play under review to determine whether there would be time left on the clock due to the violation. However, the review showed that the clock had already expired, and thus UALR suffered yet another loss, this time without a chance for redemption.

BY JOHN REED