- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Chancellor Rogerson addresses state of the university during Faculty and Staff Convocation

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 13:24:46 +0000

As Chancellor Andrew Rogerson welcomed faculty and staff to a new academic year at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock during the Faculty and Staff Convocation on Aug. 16, he updated the campus community on the state of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.�� His address included updates on new campus initiatives to address falling enrollment, the status of several campus renovation projects, changes in campus athletics, and updates on fundraising and research.�� Campus Initiatives ��Vlog��ý Little Rock formed a new recruitment committee and retention committee over the summer with the goal of increasing student enrollment on campus. “Our attention was highly focused on increasing the yield of applicants for this coming fall and looking at ways to do business differently in the year ahead,” Rogerson said. “This is our focus: increasing enrollment and moving forward sustainably, while remaining true to the mission of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, a university that continues to offer possibility and promise to so many. “Academic year 2018-19 has been a time of self-imposed inquiry and evaluation for our campus. Collectively, we have wrestled with a myriad of challenges. ��Vlog��ý System budget and policy changes, the main one being a focus on our net position, required us to make $6 million in cuts before this July.” The Office of Communications and Marketing, Financial Aid, and Admissions implemented a campaign to encourage people to register for fall classes with the encouragement of removing the scholarship application deadline. Ads placed on social media, billboards, and digital channels resulted in 7,900 visits to the university’s website, 708 inquires, and 365 registered students. Additionally, Communications and Marketing has been conducting focus groups with internal and external audiences to gather data to create a new brand messaging strategy that will be launched later this fall. An agreement was reached with eStem Public Charter Schools to provide temporary space for dining and recess for the more than 500 high school students who go to school on ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s campus. Last year, overcrowding was a problem in the Donaghey Student Center. “This agreement will eliminate congestion in our student center. We shall work hard over the coming year to find a longer-term solution to ensure sustainability for both institutions,” Rogerson said.�� Athletics Rogerson congratulated ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s women’s basketball and soccer teams, both 2018-19 season Sun Belt Conference championship winners. He also introduced Bob Denman, who will serve as the interim vice chancellor and director of athletics. This fall, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has become the only college or university in Arkansas to offer Division 1 wrestling. Thanks to the generosity of Greg Hatcher, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has hired Neil Erisman as head wrestling coach, brought 30 wrestling student-athletes to campus, and recently completed construction of a state-of-the-art wrestling training facility. “With an award-winning coach from Oklahoma State, and our acceptance into the prestigious Pac-12 Conference, a new exciting Trojan pathway has emerged, and we are attracting top wrestlers,” Rogerson said. “Our donor-funded Hatcher Wrestling Center is ready, and we can now compete with teams like Stanford and Arizona.” With the addition of wrestling, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is now home to nearly 250 student-athletes on campus with some of the highest academic achievements in the Sun Belt Conference. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s student-athletes have an average GPA of 3.36 and average graduation rate of 82 percent. Fundraising and Research ��Vlog��ý Little Rock raised more than $20 million during fiscal year 2019, an 11 percent increase over last year. This is the third consecutive year of gift growth. New endowments totaled $2,774,937, bringing ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s total endowment to more than $80 million. Rogerson also highlighted the work of faculty members who received research grants and contracts during the 2018-19 academic year, noting that faculty brought in around $32 million in grants and contracts. “Dr. Alex Biris, for example, heads our nanotechnology center. Working at the molecular level, he has developed scaffolding for regenerating bone loss in gaps up to 10 cm, as is often the case after traumatic injuries,” Rogerson said. “Although the center runs many research projects, his bone work has resulted in a spinoff company, NuShores, and substantial external funding over the last five years totaling $23 million. Another Arkansas Research Alliance fellow, Dr. Nitin Agarwal, has just landed a $2.4 million dollar cybersecurity award from the Department of Defense.” Last year, donors funded 140 signature experiences for students at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. These one-semester-long experiences create a unique opportunity for undergraduates to gain creative and professional experience. The Signature Experience program continues to grow. This year, donors have provided $175,000 to fund 175 $1,000 signature experiences. “These programs help students connect with their majors, develop skills, and ignite the ambition for graduate school,” Rogerson said. “We are committed to serving this region with graduates equipped for the innovation required to thrive in the 21st ��Գٳܰ��.” Campus Improvements The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus had undergone a number of renovations and improvements over the past year. These campus improvement projects include:

�� Renovation of the Physics and Astronomy Building and Stabler Hall
�� Installation of a new roof on the Donaghey Student Center
�� Renovation of the athletic space in the Donaghey Student Center, including coaching offices, meeting spaces, and a weight training facility
�� Installation of a technology-rich, collaborative classroom in Ottenheimer Library
�� Renovation of the Trojan Café and addition of a game room in the Donaghey Student Center

“Our grounds team and beautification committee have worked to improve the look of the campus, improving landscaping, as funds permit,” Rogerson said. “Every step we take propels us to innovate. At the same time, we seek to address how to move forward sustainability.” One of the university’s major accomplishments of the year was the opening of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Downtown in January 2019. The 4,000-square-foot space is divided into two sections. The front area is used for recruitment, specialized events, and college and community lectures, while the back area houses the historic Joe Jones Mural and has become a “space for civic reflection and appreciation of an important work of art.” “We wanted to create a space that honored the past, engaged the present, and imagined the future,” Rogerson said. “That is what this multi-use space reflects.” Since its launch, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has hosted 72 events with more than 2,100 attendees. These events have included college access events, K-12 discussions, and numerous community business meetings. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Downtown also hosted a Wednesday night lecture series to explore important research and community work being done by faculty members, with seven new presentations lined up for the fall. In the upper photo, Chancellor Andrew Rogerson presents to faculty and staff during the 2019 Faculty and Staff Convocation. Photo by Ben Krain.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Emergency Management office host sports event risk management training Feb. 12-13

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 21:20:07 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Police Department, in partnership with the City of Little Rock Office of Emergency Management, will host the Sports Event Risk Management workshop Feb. 12-13.�� The training is free to participants and will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12, and Wednesday, Feb. 13, at the Little Rock Fire Department Training Facility on 7000 Murray St., Little Rock. The course is geared toward owners and operators of large arenas and venues, event management and operations staff, athletic departments, public safety agencies, and local government representatives, as well as community response, risk management, and emergency management personnel. Taught through the University of Southern Mississippi National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security, the course is designed to build sport and special event risk management capabilities for community-wide collaboration. Through activity-based training modules, safety and security teams will learn planning, risk assessment, training, and continuous improvement practices. Participants will return to their respective sport venues with the skills needed to coordinate the development or enhancement of a sport event security management system and can earn 1.6 continuing education unit credits. The course is funded by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Participants can, but must create a free account to sign up.

Coach Walker selected as Arkansas Black Hall of Fame honoree

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 14:08:44 +0000

Darrell Walker, head coach of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock men’s basketball team, has been named an inductee for the 2018 Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.�� Walker will join the at the induction ceremony on Oct. 27 at the Robinson Center Performance Hall in Little Rock, which will offer a variety show featuring comedy, dance, and music. Walker has dedicated his life to Arkansas basketball, playing at the University of Arkansas and now coaching at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Walker brings with him extensive basketball experience at both the collegiate and professional level. His playing experience includes three years at the University of Arkansas and 10 seasons in the National Basketball Association, followed by a 20-year professional coaching career, including serving as head coach for two different NBA franchises. Walker earned his degree in human resources from the University of Arkansas. He was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 and was enshrined into the University of Arkansas Hall of Honor in 2008. A native of Chicago, Walker played one season at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith before spending three seasons at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Under head coach Eddie Sutton, Walker amassed 1,325 points, ranking 18th all-time on the Razorback scoring list, while ranking fourth in program steals (230) and sixth in free throws made (524). He was named a second team All-American and a first team National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District selection in 1983, helping Arkansas reach the Sweet 16 in both 1981 and 1983. Walker was the two-time Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year, being named to the 1983 NABC All-Star game. Walker was the 12th overall pick by the New York Knicks in the 1983 NBA draft, beginning a 10-year NBA career in which he suited up for five different teams. Walker averaged 8.9 points, 4.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game during his professional career, playing for NBA Hall of Fame coaches Hubie Brown, Wes Unseld, Chuck Daly and Phil Jackson. Walker described his years at ��Vlog��ý as important to his learning to become a man. He’s been living in Little Rock since 1983. Although born in Chicago, Walker now calls himself a “native son” of Arkansas. “I’ve tried to always be an ambassador for the state of Arkansas,” Walker said. Walker will be joined by five other inductees, including Kevin Cole, celebrated painter, printmaker, and sculptor; Brent Jennings, a film and stage actor and director; Lt. Gen. Aundre Piggee, the U.S. Army deputy chief of staff for logistics at the Pentagon; Florence Price, the first black woman recognized as a symphonic composer and to have a composition played by a major orchestra; and Mary Louise Williams, an education advocate and sorority and political leader. The Arkansas Black Hall of Fame was established in 1992. Walker and the other inductees will join the Hall of Fame’s more than 140 members. The organization generally inducts five living black Arkansans and one posthumous honoree each year. This year’s posthumous honor went to Price, who died in 1953. Two of Price’s descendants will accept the award on her behalf, and a string quartet will perform some of her music. Price regained national prominence after a person in Chicago found a collection of her work while renovating a home. Price also was a recipient of the Music Teachers National Association Foundation Fellow Award earlier this year after Linda Holzer, a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock professor of music, campaigned for Price to receive the award from the national organization after the state organization, the Arkansas State Music Teachers Association, denied Price entry due to her race nearly a century ago.

Williams announces retirement from Track and Field/Cross Country Program

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 15:35:27 +0000

Following the Trojans’ success at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in early June, Little Rock Director of Track and Field/Cross Country��has announced his intention to retire from the program.�� “It has been one of the greatest honors and pleasures of my life to serve as the director of men’s and women’s track and field/cross country at Little Rock,” Williams said. “I’d like to thank the many athletes who chose Little Rock as their home. I’m grateful to have been your coach. You inspired me every day with your own personal stories of courage and will to win. To my coworkers in the Department of Athletics, thank you for your friendship. You are absolutely the best, and I am better for having worked with you.” Williams came to Little Rock in 2001 as the associate head coach and was named the head coach for track and cross country in 2004. In 2014, he was named the director of track and field/cross country. Williams was named the Sun Belt Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2005 and went on to earn the award three times on the men’s side in 2007, 2010, and 2012. In 2012, Williams helped the men’s team win the Sun Belt Championship for the fifth time in school history. Under Williams’ tenure as head coach/director, the Trojans tallied five All-American selections in outdoor track, two appearances at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and two appearances at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Over his career at Little Rock, Williams helped his student-athletes earn 37 individual Sun Belt Conference Championships across all events. “Little Rock Athletics is most appreciative to coach Williams for his loyal 17 years of service,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics��Chasse Conque��said. “Milton’s career has been highlighted by numerous accomplishments but none more important than the mentoring and development he provided hundreds of student-athletes over the years. Milton has helped considerably in growing the program and we are grateful for his passion for the Little Rock Trojans.” Williams brought several years of experience into his role at the head of the Trojan program. Besides his coaching background, Williams was an NAIA All-American in the shot put in 1980 and a 1984 Olympic trial qualifier in the shot put as well. Williams was inducted into the Arkansas Track & Field Hall of Fame in June 2013. Prior to Little Rock, Williams was the head track and cross country coach at Cabot High School in his hometown of Cabot, Arkansas. From 1986 to 1990, Williams was the head strength and conditioning coach at Louisiana State University where he directed strength programs for all LSU teams, several of which went on to conference and national championships. During his tenure at LSU, Williams worked closely with four basketball players who were first-round NBA draft picks: Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Jackson, John Williams and Stanley Roberts. Williams graduated from Arkansas-Monticello in 1982 and received his master’s from Northeast Louisiana University in 1984. A nationwide search for Little Rock’s next director of track and field/cross country will begin immediately.

2018 Little Rock Golf Shamble to honor Bruce Munson

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 14:34:16 +0000

The fourth annual Little Rock Golf Shamble has been set for Monday, August 27, at Pleasant Valley Country Club. This year’s event will honor Bruce Munson, who has been a tremendous supporter of the Little Rock golf programs for years.�� A well respected lawyer in central Arkansas, Munson and his wife, Peggy, have been active supporters of the Little Rock Athletic department, including serving as a member of the Little Rock Golf Shamble committee since its inception in 2015. A member of the Locker Club, Munson has served on the Trojan Advisory Council and is a fixture at Trojan athletic events throughout the year. “I was impressed into service by Trojan Golf Hall of Famer Wyn Norwood when he volunteered me to serve as the chairman for his tournaments in the mid-1990s,” Munson said. “That thrust me into a relationship with Trojan golf, which annually, is one of my greatest pleasures. “Every year I have the privilege of working with the golf coaches, tournament committee, and tremendous young men and women which make up our golf teams. I enjoy following their accomplishments as Trojan golfers, and though I hate to see them graduate, there is always another outstanding student taking their place. I would not trade the opportunity of playing in the tournament with one of our student-athletes for anything.” Munson began practicing law in 1978 and has accumulated numerous accolades throughout his career. He has been named to the Best Lawyers in America every year since 2003, being named the Lawyer of the Year in 2015. A member of the Mid-South Super Lawyers since 2007, he has been ranked among the Top 50 Arkansas Super Lawyers since 2015. Munson also spent five years as a pilot in the United States Air Force, earning the rank of captain. “Through the years, our student-athletes and coaches across all sports at Little Rock have benefitted from Peggy and Bruce Munson’s generosity,” said Director of Athletics Chasse Conque. “We are thrilled to honor Bruce later this summer for all he has done for our golf program dating back over 20 years.” “Bruce Munson has had a significant impact on our golf program over the past 20 years, with roles that vary from being part of the committee to hosting college teams when they come play in the Little Rock Invitational each October,” said Director of Golf . “Bruce is a tireless supporter of Little Rock golf and we look forward to honoring him for his many contributions in August at our annual fundraiser.” Munson will join Wyn Norwood, John Elliott, and Dan Snider as past honorees at the annual shamble. The Little Rock Golf Shamble has evolved into an incredibly successful event, raising funds to support both the Trojan men’s and women’s golf programs. The 2017 event raised nearly $72,000 for the teams, which goes directly to help the Little Rock golf student-athletes compete at the highest level. The entry fee is $1,600 per team as each foursome will compete with a “celebrity,” including former and current Trojan golf student-athletes. Team entries will be served on a first-come, first-served basis as spots fill up fast. For more information, please contact Trojan Director of Golf at 501-516-3531 (jxharrington@ualr.edu) or Head Women’s Golf Coach at 501-680-0825 (blnorwood@ualr.edu).

��Vlog��ý Little Rock seeks community input for football, marching band feasibility study

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 17:23:34 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is entering into the next phase of a feasibility study to assess whether the university should implement a football and marching band program.�� The study, conducted by Conventions, Sports and Leisure (CSL), CarrSports, the Grant Group, and CBRE Heery International, began in December 2017 and is expected to conclude this summer. During the next phase of the feasibility process, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will be seeking feedback from the community via an online survey in regard to the possibility of adding football. The survey, an important part of the strategic study, will be distributed beginning Tuesday, Feb. 20. Current university and athletics department supporters will receive a link via email to complete the survey, while other community members will be able to access the survey through both the university’s and athletic department’s websites beginning on Feb. 22. The survey is expected to take between 10-15 minutes to complete and will focus on a variety of topics regarding the impact of a football program on the university, the athletic department, and the community. For more information about the study, including FAQs, visit the at LRTrojans.com.

��Vlog��ýLR student-athletes achieve record semester in the classroom

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 16:42:05 +0000

Little Rock’s were excellent in the classroom during the fall semester, finishing with a combined semester grade point average of 3.28 and a combined cumulative GPA of 3.25. The semester GPA is the best ever for the Little Rock Trojans.�� Among Little Rock’s nearly 200 student-athletes, 76 percent earned a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, while 29 earned perfect 4.0 GPAs. “Our entire department celebrates the success of our student-athletes and their strong fall semester,” ��Vlog��ýLR Athletics Director Chasse Conque said.��“Today, being a Division I student athlete is demanding, and it is not easy to collectively achieve a 3.28 GPA. I am proud of our coaches and young people for their dedication to the classroom. Senior Associate A.D. Richard Turner��and his staff should also be commended for their commitment to our student-athletes’ academic progress as they provide much needed support to our young people during their time as a Little Rock Trojan.” Twenty-nine different Little Rock student-athletes across all sports made the Chancellor’s List for the fall semester, while 55 others made the Dean’s List. Students on the Chancellor’s List finished the semester with at least nine credit hours earned, a 3.9 grade point average, and nothing below a C in any one class. To be named to the Dean’s List, a student must maintain a GPA above 3.5 while earning at least nine hours and nothing below a C. The women’s golf team had the highest fall semester grade point average with an incredible 3.9 GPA as a team. Five golfers were represented on the Chancellor’s List – all five with perfect 4.0 GPAs – while three were named to the Dean’s List. Each student-athlete earned at least a 3.6 GPA for the fall semester. The team enjoys a 3.58 cumulative GPA. The men’s golf team posted a 3.43 semester GPA while putting five on the Dean’s List. Nine of the 10 golfers earned GPAs of 3.0 or higher. Cumulatively, the team’s GPA stands at 3.31. Swimming and diving boasted a 3.53 team GPA for the fall semester. The team put eight each on the Chancellor’s and Dean’s Lists as seven earned perfect 4.0 GPAs for the semester. Twenty-three of the team’s 26 student-athletes boasted a GPA of 3.0 or above. Overall, the team’s cumulative GPA is 3.5. The soccer team posted a team GPA of 3.49 for the semester and put 10 student-athletes on the Dean’s List. Five more made the Chancellor’s List, with all five boasting perfect 4.0 GPAs. Of the team’s 29 members, 27 earned GPAs of 3.0 or better. The team’s cumulative GPA is at 3.57. The baseball team earned a team GPA of 3.42, with 32 of 38 student-athletes posting GPAs of 3.0 or better. In total, 14 were represented on the Dean’s List and five posted perfect 4.0 GPAs and were members of the Chancellor’s List. The baseball program boasts a cumulative GPA of 3.24. The volleyball team put up a 3.33 GPA in the fall semester. Ten of 13 student-athletes earned 3.0 GPAs or above, and the team had five represented on the Dean’s List and two represented on the Chancellor’s List, both with 4.0 GPAs. The team’s cumulative GPA is at 3.55. The women’s basketball team posted a 3.01 team GPA, with six of its members earning a GPA of 3.0 or above. Three student-athletes were named to the Dean’s List. The women’s basketball cumulative GPA is at 3.1. Men’s cross country earned a team GPA of 3.0, with 13 of 19 student-athletes posting individual GPAs of 3.0 or above. Two members of the team posted perfect 4.0 GPAs and were named to the Chancellor’s List. Three were represented on the Dean’s List. Thirteen of the 20 women’s cross country student-athletes posted GPAs of 3.0 or better. Two members of the team earned 4.0 GPAs and were named to the Chancellor’s List. Two more were named to the Dean’s List. The program boasts a cumulative GPA of 3.04. Five men’s basketball players earned GPAs of 3.0 or better.

Women’s basketball team picked to finish second in Sun Belt Conference

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 15:43:43 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock women’s basketball team was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference in the Coaches’ Preseason Poll released by the league��Oct. 18. Little Rock earned 121 points in the poll, four points shy of first-place Troy University. Little Rock, however, earned the most first-place votes among all the teams in the league, picking up five first-place votes compared to Troy’s three and third-place University of Texas at Arlington’s three. The Trojans were also well represented on the Sun Belt’s Preseason All-Conference teams. Senior forward��was named Preseason First Team All-Conference, and senior guard��was named Preseason Second Team All-Conference. Both players are receiving preseason all-conference selections for the first times in their career. Pratt returns to the Trojans for her senior year in 2016-17 hoping to build on her impressive junior season. As a junior, Pratt played in all 33 games and started in 26, averaging nearly 30 minutes per game. She set new career highs in points and rebounds, averaging 9.5 points and 6.7 boards per game. She also had a career-high eight blocks and 22 assists. Pratt shot 53.3 percent from the field, hitting 120 of her 255 attempts on the season. She is now second all-time in Trojan history with a career field goal percentage of .555. Pratt also ranks fourth in Little Rock history with 232 offensive rebounds and 2.5 offensive boards per game. Pratt scored in double figures in 16 games as a junior and had double-figure rebounding totals in seven games. She had five total double-doubles on the year. After the departure of Taylor Gault following the 2014-15 season, Collins took over as the Trojans’ top-scoring guard in her junior year. Collins averaged 9.7 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game – both career highs – while playing in a career-best 32.1 minutes per game. She was a starter in all but four games during the season and eclipsed 1,000 minutes in a year for the first time. Collins was the Trojans’ most accurate 3-point shooter on the season, making 34.5 percent of her attempts from downtown. She was also placed on the Sun Belt’s All-Tournament team after scoring an average of 15 points in three tournament games. She scored in double figures 17 times during the year and reached 15 points on six occasions. The Trojans’ season begins on��November 11��with a contest against North Texas in the Jack Stephens Center as part of the Preseason WNIT. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online��. 2016-17 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Poll First-place votes are listed in parentheses. 1. Troy (3) – 125 points 2. Little Rock (5) – 121 points 3. UT Arlington (3) – 118 points 4. South Alabama – 109��points 5. UL Lafayette – 101��points 6. Texas State – 81��points 7. Arkansas State – 80��points 8. Appalachian State (1) – 64��points 9. Georgia State – 52��points 10. Georgia Southern – 39��points 11. Coastal Carolina – 26��points 12. UL Monroe – 20��points Preseason First Team All-Conference ��(Little Rock, Senior, Forward) Angel McGowan (Georgia Southern, Senior, Guard) Marquita Daniels (South Alabama, Junior, Guard) Rebekah VanDijk (UT Arlington, Junior, Center) Caitlyn Ramirez (Troy, Senior, Forward) Preseason Second Team All-Conference Madi Story (Appalachian State, Junior, Guard) ��(Little Rock, Senior, Guard) Makeba Ponder (Georgia State, Junior, Guard) Chyna Ellis (South Alabama, Junior, Center) Cierra Johnson (UT Arlington, Junior, Guard) Preseason Third Team All-Conference Patrice Butler (Georgia Southern, Senior, Center) Simone Fields (UL Lafayette, Junior, Forward) Erin Peoples (Texas State, Senior, Guard) Kaitlin Walla (Texas State, Junior, Guard) ArJae’ Saunders (Troy, Senior, Guard) Preseason Player of the Year Rebekah VanDijk (UT Arlington, Junior, Center) In the upper right photo, senior forward Kaitlyn Pratt (left) and senior guard Sharde’ Collins (right) received preseason all-conference selections for the first times in their career.

Trojan Soccer player Hali Long makes Philippines national soccer team

Shanna Fitzgerald — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 17:57:31 +0000

Trojans senior defender ��earned a spot on the��Philippines national soccer team. Long participated in a team training camp the past��month and officially made the final cut for a major tournament that runs through early August. Long is the first player in Trojans history to play on a country’s senior national team. The Philippines’ 20-woman roster – Long included – is��playing in the AFF Women’s Championship that started on Tuesday, July 26, in Myanmar. The AFF is a smaller organization within the Asian Football Confederation made up of Southeast Asian countries. Included in the 2016 AFF Women’s Championship is��the Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, and an Australian under-20 team. Long’s first match was Tuesday, July 26, against Thailand, the highest-ranked national team in the tournament, according to the FIFA World Rankings. The Philippines squad is guaranteed two more matches,��at 3:30 a.m.��Central Standard Time��Thursday, July 28,��against Vietnam and against Singapore at 6:30 a.m.��Saturday,��July 30.�� Myanmar time is 11.5 hours ahead of Central Standard Time. The tournament, much like the World Cup, is organized into four-team groups. The top two teams in both groups will advance to a bracket-style knockout tournament. The semifinals will be played on Aug. 2, and the championship and consolation games will take place on Aug. 4. Hali Long is one of seven seniors on the Trojans’ roster for 2016. A mainstay in the defense for three years, Long played more minutes than any other player on the team in 2015 and played every minute of 17 out of 20 games last year. She was a large part of the Trojans setting a new team record for average goals against in 2015. Little Rock soccer begins its 2016 season on Aug. 19 against Northwestern State at the Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex.

On senior night, Trojans break records for attendance, wins

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:27:18 +0000

The Little Rock Trojans established a new program record for single-season victories Tuesday with an 89-80 win over Arkansas State on senior night in front of an arena-record attendance of 5,619 at the Jack Stephens Center. The Trojans are now 27-3 overall, 17-2 in Sun Belt Conference play and own the best record in the country. The team clinched the regular season Sun Belt title on Saturday with a home win over Texas State. Arkansas State dropped to 11-18 and 7-11 in the conference. “I thought both teams played really well offensively,” head coach Chris Beard said after the win. “Both teams shot over 50 percent with a lot of good individual performances. I thought we won the game with our offense – but give them credit … In all my years in college basketball, I’ve always wanted to have a game with no turnovers, and we came close tonight.”

Little Rock Trojans’ Roger Woods scores two of his career-high 30 points in a Tuesday, March 1, 2016, win against Arkansas State. Photos for this article were produced by Nelson Chenault.

In addition to shooting 54.7 percent as a team, Little Rock finished the game with 20 assists against just one turnover. The Trojans are just the second team this season to finish a game with a single turnover, and the 20-to-1 ratio is the best in all of college basketball this year. Tuesday’s win made the Trojans the first team in Sun Belt Conference history to win 27 of 30 to start a season. The win also capped a perfect 14-0 season for Little Rock at the Jack Stephens Center — the Trojans’ first perfect home season since going 12-0 at home in 1981-82. Additionally, Little Rock’s 14-win improvement from last season’s 13-18 mark matches a Sun Belt Conference record. Little Rock led for all but 16 seconds of the game, taking a 48-38 lead into the locker room after shooting 59.4 percent in the opening half. Arkansas State finished the game shooting 50.8 percent, but the Trojans led 22-2 in points off turnovers. Roger Woods finished the game with a career-high 30 points on 11-of-15 shooting. Marcus Johnson Jr. added 17 points while Josh Hagins (15) and Lis Shoshi (12) both scored in double figures. Hagins and Johnson combined for 12 assists. Arkansas State took its only lead of the game on a pair of free throws by Nouhoum Bocoum with 6:04 left in the first half. Little Rock scored on its next two possessions and never trailed again. Anthony Livingston led Arkansas State with 18 points and 22 rebounds. Devin Carter totaled 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting and Bocoum added 21 points. Little Rock closes the regular season at Appalachian State on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock