MEMPHIS — Senior Janette Merriex had 17 points, including 3 three-pointers, to lead UALR to a 56-44 victory over Memphis on Friday night at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

The Trojans (8-1) held Memphis (3-4) to a season low in points as the Tigers shot only 27 percent (17 of 63) from the floor. Memphis senior forward Nicole Dickson, who entered Friday seventh in the nation in scoring at 23.3 points per game, was held to 10 points on 4-of-19 shooting.

Sophomore Taylor Gault scored 16 points for UALR, and sophomore Kiera Clark came off the bench for a team-high eight rebounds.

Pa’Sonna Hope scored 14 points for Memphis while Ariel Hearn added 10 points and Dickson had 10 rebounds.

UALR used a 14-6 run in the middle of the first half for a 17-8 lead. Memphis cut the lead to 17-10 with 11:17 remaining in the half but went four minutes without a basket. The Trojans took a 28-20 lead into halftime. UALR shot 34.3 percent (12 of 35) in the first half and held Memphis to 27.8 percent shooting (10 of 36)

Memphis trimmed the lead to 37-33 with 14:00 left, but the Trojans used an 8-0 run to make it 45-33. Gault started the run with a jumper which was followed by Shanity James’ put back.

Merriex’ three-pointer and Taylor Ford’s two free throws capped the run.

After Memphis scored five consecutive to pull within49-42, Gault answered with a three-pointer and UALR finished by making 4 of 5 from the free-throw line to seal the victory.

UALR will host Tulsa on Dec. 18 in the teams’ second meeting this season. The Trojans won at Tulsa 73-64 on Nov. 12.

SEC MEN

SOUTH CAROLINA 91, JACKSONVILLE 74

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Michael Carrera scored 17 points and Brian Richardson added a season-high 16 as South Carolina snapped a two-game losing streak with a victory over Jacksonville.

The Gamecocks led 57-30 at halftime behind 13 points apiece for Richardson and Carrera. South Carolina (6-3) shot 71.9 percent (23 of 32) from the field and made 6 of 7 three-pointers for its highest scoring half in 69 games.

The Gamecocks were coming off a loss to Clemson on Sunday in which they scored 55 points in the game and had averaged only 60 points over the two-game skid.

Bruce Ellington, who was playing in his third game since coming over from football, and Brenton Williams each had 12 points.

Marcellous Bell led Jacksonville (4-6) with 17 points, with Jarvis Haywood adding 13 and Keith McDougald 12.

The Dolphins scored the opening basket of the game but it was all South Carolina the remainder of the half. The Gamecocks went on an 11-2 run over the next 4 minutes to take an 11-4 lead. They went the final 15 minutes of the first half without a turnover and knocked down 19 of 27 shots.

Leading 29-18, Williams started a 28-12 finish to the half with consecutive three-pointers with 8:00 remaining to put the Gamecocks firmly in control. Things were going so well, even 6-foot-11 Laimonas Chatkevicius hit a three pointer as the shot clock was winding down.

The South Carolina lead grew to as many as 33 points in the second half as the Gamecocks were able to substitute liberally. Carrera added nine rebounds and Eric Smith tied his career high with seven assists.

South Carolina’s shooting cooled off in the second half to 8 of 24 but the lead was too much for the Dolphins to overcome. The closest Jacksonville got in the second half was the 17-point margin at the final buzzer when South Carolina had three walk-ons on the floor.

Sports, Pages 24 on 12/08/2012