LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas State had two chances to tie the game in the final 30 seconds before falling 53-51 to North Texas on Thursday at the Super Pit in Denton, Texas.
ASU pulled within 53-51 on Ashley Olveran’s three-pointer with 1:33 left, but Jalen O’Bannon missed a jumper with 27 seconds left and, after Alexis Hyder missed a free throw for North Texas,the Mean Green’s Laura Mc-Coy stole the ball from ASU’s Jane Morrill with 2 seconds left to seal the victory.
It came after ASU twice led by five points in the first half and 27-24 halftime. The Red Wolves (15-13, 12-7) led by as much as 33-26 early in the second half and led for much of the second half’s first 10minutes.
But North Texas’ Alexis Hyder’s layup that tied the game at 45-45 with 6:19 left, and her layup a minute later gave North Texas (11-18, 10-10) a 47-45 lead. ASU never regained a lead.
ASU’s Hannah Qedan had 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting and made 5 of 12 three-pointers. Qedan was held to nine points in Saturday’s victory over Troy and was held scoreless in the two games beforethat.
Morrill added 11 points for the Red Wolves, who shot 40.8 percent from the floor and held the Mean Green to 34.5 percent shooting.
But ASU was 8 for 23 from the floor in the second half and 0 for 3 from the freethrow line.
The loss drops ASU a half-game behind UALR in the Sun Belt West Division standings. The Red Wolves play at UALR on Saturday.
Sports, Pages 23 on 02/28/2013