JONESBORO, Ark. – Mikayla Kinnard posted a career-best 24 points for SIUE women's basketball Wednesday, but the Cougars took their first road loss with an 80-73 decision at Arkansas State.
Kinnard closed out the game by hitting the team's third three-pointer at the final buzzer.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
"She was aggressive going the basket," said SIUE Head Coach Paula Buscher of the sophomore guard. "She did some nice things tonight."
SIUE is now 1-1 and will begin preparations for its first home game of the next Wednesday at 2 p.m. in First Community Arena against University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy of St. Louis, an NAIA school.
Arkansas State, 1-1, took advantage of 21 SIUE turnovers, 15 of which were in the first half, to score 21 points off those turnovers.
The Red Wolves used a pair of career-best offensive performances to defeat the Cougars. Peyton Martin led all players with 28 points. Jada Stinson collected 24 points, including 6 of 7 shots from three-point range.
Buscher said the team shot well from the field (30-62 for 48.4 percent) but weren't able to make enough runs late against Arkansas State.
"We were exchanging (scoring) there so we weren't making a difference on the scoreboard," said Buscher.
The Cougars pulled to within five points on a 6-0 run in the fourth quarter when Allie Troeckler hit a jumper with 7:56 to play. Arkansas State countered with a 9-0 run of its own and grew its lead to 14 points with 4:32 left to play.
"We didn't get our transition game going because we just didn't make enough stops," said Buscher. "I think you would have seen a much different offensive team if we had got more stops."
Arkansas State hit 7 of 10 shots in the fourth period, including 4 of 4 from Martin.
Ajulu Thatha was the only other player in double figures for the Cougars, finishing with 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
