Dec. 28, 2002
Fayetteville, Ark. - The Western Kentucky women's basketball team battled for 40 minutes, but was unable to overcome runs in the second half as #9 Arkansas defeated the Lady Toppers 71-61 Saturday afternoon.
Arkansas (9-1) came out of the gate strong, scoring the first six points of the contest, but a layup from Kristina Covington (Sr., Elizabethtown, Ky.) got Western (5-4) on the board at the 18:18 mark and sparked a 7-0 Lady Topper run that gave them a 7-6 lead on a free throw from Leslie Logsdon (Jr., Munfordville, Ky.) with 16:25 to play. The Lady 'Backs regained the lead with a three-point play from Lakishia Harper, but Western responded pushed the lead as high as seven when a free throw by Leah Lineberry (Jr., Calvert City, Ky.) made it a 24-17 game 7:41 remaining in the half. Arkansas closed the gap, however, and tied the game for the third time in the half when a Sarah Pfeifer jumper evened the score at 31-31 with 3:14 to play. In fact, Western was held without a point in the final 4:40 as the Lady 'Backs took a 36-31 lead into intermission.
Covington led the Lady Toppers with nine points at the break, while Logsdon and Shala Reese (Sr., Easton, Texas) added eight points each. Harper and India Lewis paced Arkansas with nine each.
Arkansas pushed the lead to seven to open the second half, but Western continued to battle, using a 10-2 run to tie the game at 56-56 with 4:43 to play. The Lady 'Backs were able to extend the lead back to four, however, before a three from Logsdon made it a 60-59 game with 3:31 remaining. Western was unable to get any closer as Arkansas hit its free throws down the stretch to take the ten-point victory.
Dana Cherry led all scorers with 19 points to pace Arkansas. Logsdon led Western with 17 points, while Reese added 16 and Covington tossed in 14. Reese also pulled down 10 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the year.
Western will return home for the final game of 2002 Monday night when it hosts Liberty at 7 p.m. (CST) in Didde Arena.
- WKU -
