FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Arizona State 59,
Little Rock 41
Santa Clara 84,
Lindenwood 70 (Honolulu, Hawai'i)
@#23 Louisville 91,
Eastern Illinois 38
ARIZONA STATE 59, LITTLE ROCK 41
TEMPE, Ariz. - Little Rock fought hard throughout, led by graduate guard Jordan Holman's 21 points, but the Trojans fell 59–41 to undefeated Arizona State on Friday at Desert Financial Arena.
The Trojans dropped to 1–4 on the season while facing one of their toughest road tests to date against an undefeated Sun Devils (7-0) team.
Holman once again led the Trojans, turning in a strong all-around performance with 21 points, seven rebounds and three made threes, keeping Little Rock competitive throughout the first half.
Little Rock trailed just 10-9 after the opening quarter, leaning on defensive pressure and patient half-court offense. The Trojans forced six first-quarter turnovers, which helped set the tone early.
Despite the halftime deficit, Little Rock continued to defend with energy in the second half and held ASU to just 24 points after the break. Holman's scoring and sophomore Pearson McVay's steady work on the glass, six rebounds to go with four points, provided stability as the Trojans settled back in.
Freshman Lidia Belmonte Hurtado continued her hot streak from behind the arc as she is now 4-4 on three pointers on the year. Hurtado finished with three points and two assists in today's match.
SANTA CLARA 84, LINDENWOOD 70
HONOLULU, Hawai'i - The Lindenwood women's basketball team (4-2) dropped the first game of the American Savings Bank Rainbow Wahine Showdown to Santa Clara (6-2) by a score of 84-70 from Honolulu, Hawaii
Lindenwood took an early 7-4 lead following a three by Aleshia Jones. The Broncos pulled ahead for the first time in the game, 12-10 with just over four minutes to go in the opening period. Santa Clara led 20-16 after one.
Both teams went back-and-forth to begin the second quarter. Brooke Coffey tied the game at 24 with a layup three minutes into the frame. Santa Clara responded with a 10-2 run to take its largest lead of the game, 34-26 at the midway point of the second. Lindenwood got it down to three following buckets by Coffey and Jones, but would trail 39-34 at half.
Santa Clara maintained a comfortable advantage in the third quarter and extended the lead to 54-41 just past the halfway mark of the frame. Lindenwood got it back to single digits following a free throw by Coffey, but the Broncos closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to lead 63-47 after three.
The Broncos grew the lead to 25 at 77-52 in the early stages of the fourth. Jones drilled her third three of the game, followed by a layup to make the score 79-64 with three minutes go. The Lions couldn't get any closer, however and fell 84-70 on Friday afternoon.
#23 LOISVILLE 91, EASTERN ILLINOIS 38
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville broke open a tight first quarter game with a 14-0 run that lifted the 23rd-ranked Cardinals to a 91-38 win over Eastern Illinois.
Tiny Lewis drained a 3-pointer with 3:27 to play in the opening quarter as the Panthers trailed 13-12 to Louisville. Lewis finished with 10 points as the only EIU player in double figures.
Following the Lewis 3-pointer, Louisville went on a 14-0 run over the next five minutes to break open the game leading 21-12 the end of the first quarter and building a 47-23 lead at the half.
EIU shot 45 percent in the first quarter and 44 percent in the second quarter but 15 turnovers led to 18 Louisville points off turnovers. The Panthers ended the game committing 31 turnovers leading to 39 Louisville points.
The Panthers defense did force 15 Louisville turnovers. Kennedy Davis came off the bench with three steals followed by Liana Buckhalton with two steals.
Abbie Boutilier was solid with six points, seven rebounds. Nyah Hardy had six points off the bench for EIU which fell to 0-6.
Louisville (5-2) had balanced scoring in the win led by Tajianna Roberts with 13 points. Anaya Hardy posted a double-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds. A total of four Louisville players scored in double figures.