SUN BELT WOMEN: Lewis’ block keys ASU upset

— Arkansas State guard Meghan Lewis leapt off the floor with one intent, but got an even better result.

Lewis wasn’t expecting to block a three-point attempt by UALR forward Janette Merriex with three seconds left, but the junior got a portion of her left palm on the ball, and the UALR women’s last chance failed in a 54-51 loss Saturday before a crowd of 2,153 at the Convocation Center.

“I was just trying to contest the shot, get a hand up,” Lewis said.

As for Red Wolves Coach Brian Boyer, he did not panic as the final play unfolded.

“There was enough space there,” Boyer said. “Meghan defended it perfectly, even without the block she was in the perfect spot to contest it.”

Just enough.

That’s the way the night seemed to go for Arkansas State (16-13, 9-7 Sun Belt Conference) against the West Division champion Trojans (19-7, 13-2).

Keying the upset was a 10-minute stretch to start the second half in which the Trojanswere held to 1 of 13 shooting and leading scorer Chastity Reed missed her first six attempts.

Reed scored a game-high 20 points, but finished 9 of 26 from the floor, including 3 of 15 in the second half with guard Jazmine Taylor defending her.

“Jaz did an exceptional job in the second half just staying to her,” Boyer said. “Even though she had success against NeNe [Hurst], you don’t know if that work benefits you late. Maybe she gets a little fatigued, but only she knows.”

The Trojans’ lone field goal during the stretch was a Britteni Williams layup to keep UALR ahead 36-33 at the 16:42 mark.

They wouldn’t score again for seven minutes, and the Red Wolves put together a 11-0 run.

Hurst’s free throw put Arkansas State ahead 37-36 at the 14:43 mark, followed by a Hurst layup at 13:30 that increased the lead to 39-36.

The Red Wolves, who shot 37.7 percent, missed 10 of 13shots to start the half but got enough production to earn the victory.

“I didn’t think either team executed real well,” UALR Coach Joe Foley said. “Both teams played hard, but we didn’t do a good job positioning ourselves.”

Offensive struggles aside, the Trojans did enough to nearly steal a victory late.

At the 9:06 mark, Reed connected on her first shot of the half on a jumper from the left wing, ending the drought and cutting the lead to 44-38.

On a rare second-chance possession, Rolfe hit a threepointer at the top of the key to move UALR within 44-41 with 7:39 to go.

Three minutes later, it was the same formula - Reed hitting an open jumper to make it a 50-48 game with 4:33 left, followed by a Rolfe three-pointer on the right wing to put UALR in front 51-50 at the 3:52 mark.

It was fleeting relief.

Forward Asiah Scribner fouled Quinishia McDowell on a drive, sending the sophomore to the free-throw line to sink two shots that put Arkansas State ahead for good 53-51 with 3:25 to go.

“We had the ability tomatch each possession,” Boyer said. “When they’d get a score, we’d get an answer. When they’d get a stop it seems like we’d a get a stop.”

UALR struggled to stop ASU inside, allowing 32 points in the lane and being outrebounded 45-34.

Going inside early, Shea Scott’s aggressiveness around the rim drew two fouls from UALR forward Marian Kursh in the first three minutes, sending her to the bench for the rest of the half.

Forward Jane Morrill scored 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting, while Hurst added 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for the Red Wolves.

“We didn’t do a good job positioning ourselves in there,” Foley said. “We got caught out of position all night long. Our post players just took the night off.”

But on the final possession, UALR still had a shot.

Curling off two screens on the baseline, Reed was freed for an open jumper. Yet, the senior deferred, passing the ball to Merriex.

“I thought she was going to shoot it,” Foley said of Reed.

Unfortunately, Lewis had Reed’s alternative covered.

Sports, Pages 30 on 02/27/2011

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