JONESBORO, Ark. (12/8/12) – Led by 10 second half
points from Carlisha Wyatt, the Arkansas State women's basketball team defeated
Central Arkansas 58-51 for its first home victory Saturday night at the
Convocation Center.
Wyatt scored all 10 of her points in the second half
after playing only three minutes in the first half. Jasmine Hunt tied a
career-high with eight points and Jane Morrill led all ASU (2-6) players with
13 points on the night.
“I thought the start of the second we were able to get
a little separation from them and then keep that,” ASU head coach Brian Boyer
said. “I was very proud of Carlisha Wyatt after a slow start in the first, she
did a very good job in second half scoring 10 points and I thought she was very
aggressive.”
The Red Wolves led 24-23 at halftime, but went on a 6-0
run to start the second half to build a 30-23 advantage. The Red Wolves'
defense continued to put pressure on the Sugar Bears' (4-3) offense, forcing
the team into 21 turnovers for the game.
Jameka Watkins hit a 3-pointer with 10:23 left in the
game to pull within 40-37, but Ashley Olvera knocked down a mid-range jumper on
ASU's next possession to push the lead to five and Morrill added a score on a put
back to give the Red Wolves a 46-37 cushion.
Hannah Qedan gave ASU its largest lead of the game
after hitting a jump shot at the free throw line for a 52-39 advantage with
5:36 to go.
Central Arkansas closed the gap to 56-51 with 1:28 to
play, but could pull no closer and the Red Wolves put the game away on layup
from Q McDowell with 26 seconds left in the game to set the final.
“I thought December would be our month,” Boyer said. “I
expected some struggles in November, but I thought if we could get better I
thought December was our chance to get some wins and this is the first step for
that.”
A-State's defense forced Central Arkansas into 12
first half turnovers, but only scored nine points off those turnovers. The Red
Wolves had seven different players record a steal in the first 20 minutes.
Jasmine Hunt led the Red Wolves off the bench with six
first half points in just eight minutes on the court. She went 3-of-5 from the
field and helped ASU outscore the Sugar Bears' bench 12-2 in the first half.
ASU will return to action Dec. 15 for a non-conference
road game against Missouri State. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
