LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Interstat) — The Arkansas-Little Rock women’s basketball team used a decisive third-quarter surge to defeat Eastern Illinois 55-47 on Thursday night at Jack Stephens Center. The Trojans, who improved to 9-8, outscored the Panthers 19-11 in the third period to break open a game that was tied 20-20 at halftime. Eastern Illinois, which fell to 3-16, could not recover from the deficit despite matching Arkansas-Little Rock’s 16-point fourth quarter. The victory followed the statistical projection favoring the Trojans. Arkansas-Little Rock hosts Western Illinois on Saturday. Eastern Illinois visits Southern Indiana next Thursday.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Interstat) — A decisive third-quarter surge propelled the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans to a 55-47 victory over the Eastern Illinois Panthers in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at Jack Stephens Center. The contest, a defensive struggle for much of the first half, turned permanently in the third quarter when the Trojans outscored the Panthers 19-11, transforming a narrow 20-22 halftime lead into a more comfortable 39-33 advantage entering the final period. That quarter proved to be the pivotal stretch, as Arkansas-Little Rock found an offensive rhythm while maintaining the defensive pressure that stifled Eastern Illinois throughout the evening. Eastern Illinois, falling to 3-16 on the season, kept the game within reach early despite offensive difficulties. The Panthers managed only eight points in the opening quarter and trailed 20-22 at intermission. Sydney-James Desroches, a 6-foot sophomore from Miami, Florida, provided the primary offensive spark for the visitors, finishing with a team-high 14 points while adding two assists and a blocked shot in 36 minutes. The Trojans, however, showcased a more balanced attack to improve to 9-8. Alaina Payne, a 5-9 guard from Fort Worth, Texas, led the way with 12 points, while teammates Mya Cotto of Denver, Colorado, and Jordan Holman of Hugo, Oklahoma, each added 11. Brenna Burk, a local product from Russellville, Arkansas, chipped in 10 points. Holman’s all-around effort included two blocks and a game-high 39 minutes of action. The Panthers’ offense never fully ignited. Point guard Tiny Lewis, a 5-6 freshman from St. Cloud, Minnesota, contributed nine points and three assists but also committed multiple turnovers against the Trojans’ persistent defense. Eastern Illinois’s interior presence, Meioshe Mason, a 6-4 freshman from Lebanon, Tennessee, scored six points and recorded two blocks before fouling out. Arkansas-Little Rock’s defensive effort was comprehensive, generating numerous turnovers and challenging shots at the rim. The Trojans recorded six steals and five blocks as a team, with Holman and Cotto each making critical defensive plays. Eastern Illinois’s struggles were encapsulated by a stretch in the third quarter where the Trojans extended their lead with a combination of forced turnovers and efficient scoring, a run from which the Panthers could not recover. Eastern Illinois made a final push in the fourth quarter, closing the gap to five points on multiple occasions. A 3-pointer from Spanish freshman Adriana Arroyo, who scored all three of her points in the final period, and a driving layup from Lewis kept the pressure on. Each time, however, Arkansas-Little Rock answered. Burk and Cotto hit key baskets down the stretch, and the Trojans sealed the game at the free-throw line in the final minute. The game’s most important sequence occurred midway through the third quarter with Arkansas-Little Rock holding a slim 24-22 lead. Over the next four minutes, the Trojans engineered a 12-4 run. It began with a driving layup from Cotto and included a critical 3-pointer from Alaina Payne. The run was fueled by defensive stops, including a steal by Holman that led to free throws, and capped by a layup from Destinee Salgado, who finished with eight points. This burst gave the Trojans their first double-digit lead of the night at 36-26 and established a cushion that Eastern Illinois could not overcome, despite a valiant effort in the final quarter. The Panthers will look to regroup on the road, traveling to face Southern Indiana on Jan. 22. Arkansas-Little Rock continues its homestand, hosting Western Illinois on Saturday.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Interstat) — The Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans look to get back to .500 in conference play when they host the struggling Eastern Illinois Panthers in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball matchup Thursday night at Jack Stephens Center. The Trojans (8-8 overall) enter the contest looking to rebound from a 71-43 road loss to Lindenwood on Saturday. Prior to that defeat, Arkansas-Little Rock had won three straight Ohio Valley Conference games, holding opponents to an average of 42.7 points in those victories. A key to the Trojans’ success has been forward Jordan Holman. The standout is coming off a 17-point performance against Lindenwood and has been a consistent force, scoring in double figures in six consecutive games. She recorded a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Tennessee Tech on Jan. 1. Eastern Illinois (3-15) seeks to end a two-game skid after falling 74-61 to Western Illinois at home on Tuesday. The Panthers have found wins hard to come by this season but showed resilience in a 75-74 victory over Tennessee Tech on Jan. 8 and a 71-45 win over Tennessee State on Jan. 10. The Panthers will lean on guard Ava Stoller, who has been a bright spot during a difficult season. Stoller is averaging 14.1 points per game in conference play and is coming off an 18-point effort against Western Illinois. She logged 48 minutes and scored 22 points in a double-overtime loss to SIU Edwardsville on Dec. 18, demonstrating her durability and scoring ability. Defense will be a focal point for the Trojans, who have shown they can lock down opponents at home, allowing just 44 points in their last home conference game. Eastern Illinois, which averages just 58.2 points per game, will need to find consistent offense beyond Stoller to challenge an Arkansas-Little Rock team aiming to solidify its standing in the OVC. This game is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. They are scheduled to meet again in Charleston, Illinois, on Feb. 14. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Central on Thursday, Jan. 15.