LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Missouri State dropped a defensive battle at Arkansas-Little Rock Tuesday evening, losing 61-48 to the Trojans at the Jack Stephens Center. Each team forced more than 20 turnovers as the Lady Bears fell to 0-2 on the year and UALR improved to 2-0.
The Lady Bears trailed 11-9 six minutes into the contest before going into an offensive slump, scoring just one basket over the next seven minutes as the Trojans built a 26-11 lead with 7:04 remaining. The teams traded baskets on their next two possessions for a 28-13 score with 6:17 left, and Missouri State closed the half on a 13-2 run for a 30-26 deficit at the break.
Hillary Chvatal started the run with a layup at the 5:19 mark, and the Lady Bears scored five points on one trip down the floor thanks to an
Audrey Holt layup, missed free throw, offensive rebound from Chvatal and 3-pointer by
Kenzie Williams for a 28-20 score and 2:14 on the clock.
Williams scored MSU's next four points for a 28-24 score, and
Liza Fruendt scored with seven seconds left for the four-point halftime margin as the Lady Bears overcame 15 turnovers by shooting 50 percent from the floor.
The halftime score was as close as the Lady Bears would get as the Trojans opened the second half on an 8-0 run to go ahead 38-26 with 15:56 to play.
Aubrey Buckley hit a jumper and
Liza Fruendt converted a 3-point play to pull the Lady Bears to 43-36 with 10:26 remaining, but the Trojans countered with an 8-0 run to match their largest lead of the contest at 51-36 with 7:44 on the clock.
UALR extended its lead to 16 points at 56-40, and 3-pointers by Fruendt and Williams had the Lady Bears within 57-46 with 2:22 left.
Williams led all scorers with 19 points and Fruendt added 14 as MSU shot 20-of-44 from the field. The Trojans finished 23-for-53 overall, but out-scored MSU by nine points at the foul line and held a 34-29 rebounding edge despite Chvatal grabbing a career-high 11 boards for the Lady Bears.
Missouri State's road trip continues in Oklahoma this weekend with games at #19/21 Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. Saturday and Oral Roberts at 7 p.m. Monday.
