27 Dec 2023 Trojans open OVC schedule today against Tennessee Tech

The Little Rock women’s basketball team opens conference play today, Dec. 28 with a rematch of last year’s conference championship game when the Trojans meet Tennessee Tech at 5:30 pm in Cookeville, Tenn. The game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard locally on Sports Animal 920 AM with Trey Schaap on the call.

Little Rock (1-10) was finally able to get into the win column during their most recent outing – a 63-52 win over Duquesne – during the final day of the Tulane Holiday Tournament on Dec. 21. The win was the 500th for the program and a much-needed boost for the team as it heads into conference play.

Little Rock leads the all-time series with the Golden Eagles, 2-1, with all three meetings coming in the 2022-23 season. The Trojans took the two regular-season meetings, but Tennessee Tech (5-6) exacted a measure of revenge during the OVC Championship game, earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament with a 54-46 win to claim the tournament crown.

Jaiyah Harris-Smith set a new career-high with 15 assists against Tulane on Dec. 20, then grabbed a career-best nine rebounds during the win over Duquesne on the following day. Leilani Wimbish-Gay – starting in place of Tia Harvey, who opted out of the trip in favor of rest – set career-highs of 15 points and seven rebounds against Tulane, then added 11 against Duquesne. Jayla Brooks scored 20 against Tulane, and Faith Lee made the All-Tournament Team, averaging 15.5 points in the two contests.

Tennessee Tech – the preseason favorite to win the OVC – has won three straight after a 2-6 start with wins over Tennessee Wesleyan, Northern Kentucky, and North Alabama. Maaliya Owens – the Preseason OVC Player of the Year – is averaging a team-high 15 points per game on 45.3 percent shooting. Reghan Grimes is next at 9.5 points per game and Anna Walker adds 8.3. Grimes (4.9), Walker (4.3) and Owens (4.2) also lead in rebounding.