WOMEN UALR: takes break with 2-game streak

— The UALR women pulled away late in the first half to beat Southern Mississippi on Tuesday.

Junior guard Asriel Rolfe scored a career-high 15 points as UALR defeated Southern Miss 59-40 at Reed Green Coliseum.

UALR used a 16-5 run late in the first half to take a 32-19 halftime lead.

UALR (7-5) won for the fourth time on the road this season and goes into the Christmas break with consecutive victories.

“I thought we did a good job going into halftime and then did a pretty good job the first 7-8 minutes of the second half to keep that cushion,” UALR Coach Joe Foley said. “We played pretty wellas a team.”

Junior forward Chastity Reed had 17 points to lead UALR, while sophomore forward Marian Kursh had a season-high 12 points. Senior guard Kim Sitzmann added seven points.

Southern Miss shot 41 percent from the field, but had 29 turnovers. UALR outscored Southern Miss 26-8 in points off turnovers.

Rolfe made 4 of 9 field goals, but all four were three-pointers. She made 4 of 5 three-pointers and 3 of 4 free throws. She also had three steals. Her previous career high of 14 points came last season at Ole Miss.

“They were trying to sink in and clog up the lane with Chas and our inside game. Asriel did a great job knocking down some three-pointers,” Foley said.

UALR led 16-14 when it started its run in the final six minutes of the first half. It began with three consecutive baskets from Reed and included three-pointers from Sitzmann and Rolfe.

Southern Miss got within 10 points at 45-36 after two free throws from Robin Murphy, but the Lady Eagles couldn’t get any closer.

Reed and Sitzmann each hit two free throws and Kursh hit a short jump shot for a 51-38 lead.

“It’s a great way to go into Christmas, especially with two road victories. Southern Miss is a very athletic ball club. To come down here and get a W is good for us,” Foley said.

Southern Miss (4-7) was led by Candace Rucker’s 11 points.

WOMEN

ARKANSAS STATE 68, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 54

JONESBORO - Sophomore guard NeNe Hurst had 16 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and a career-high 7 steals to lead the Arkansas State Red Wolves (5-7) to victory over the Southern Illinois Salukis (1-8) at the ASU Convocation Center.

Hurst hit 6 of 9 shots from the floor, including 2 of 3 from beyond the three point arc, and did not commit a turnover in 35 minutes. Junior forward Shay Scott also finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds, while senior guard Ebonie Jefferson ripped down 10 rebounds to go along with 8 boards from senior forward Lyndsay Schlup.

Hurst had 14 points and five rebounds at the half as the Red Wolves took a 35-20 lead into the locker room. Arkansas State outrebounded Southern Illinois 29-21 in the first half with Scott, Schlup, Jefferson and Hurst combining for 20 rebounds. The Red Wolves limited the Salukis to just three offensive rebounds and no second-chance points in the first 20 minutes while forcing 14 turnovers.

“I’m certainly pleased with the win and could not be happier with our play in the first half,” said ASU Coach Brian Boyer, who earned his 100th career victory at the Convocation Center.

Southern Illinois went on a 23-9 run in the second half to cut the Red Wolves’ lead to 44-43 with 11:27 to play, but ASU freshman Jasmine Taylor came off the bench to knock down a free throw and a baseline jumper 13 seconds later to push ASU’s lead to 47-43.

Sports, Pages 21 on 12/23/2009

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