JONESBORO, Ark. (Interstat) — In a turnover-plagued Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball matchup, Arkansas State used a dominant second quarter and a decisive fourth-quarter run to pull away from in-state rival Arkansas-Little Rock for a 76-67 victory on Saturday at Convocation Center.

A crowd of 2,811 watched as the Red Wolves evened their season record at 2-2, while the Trojans fell to 1-2.

The game was ultimately decided by Arkansas State’s ability to capitalize on mistakes. The Red Wolves forced 31 Arkansas-Little Rock turnovers, converting them into 38 points. Conversely, the Trojans managed just 24 points off 26 Arkansas State turnovers. The Red Wolves also showcased superior ball movement, dishing out 19 assists compared to just six for the Trojans, and their pressure defense resulted in 19 steals.

Zyion Shannon led the charge for Arkansas State, scoring a team-high 18 points, including four three-pointers. Her backcourt mate, D’Arrah Allen, added 13 points, while Mimi McCollister provided a spark off the bench with 12 points and four rebounds. Bella Weary orchestrated the offense with a game-high five assists to go with six points and four rebounds.

Arkansas-Little Rock was carried by the individual effort of Jordan Holman, who poured in a game-high 19 points in 26 minutes. Destinee Salgado provided an efficient interior presence, scoring 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and grabbing four rebounds in just 15 minutes of action.

The game began as a defensive struggle, with both teams combining for 16 turnovers in the first quarter. Arkansas-Little Rock managed to build a 16-11 lead after the opening period, but the momentum shifted dramatically in the second. Arkansas State’s defensive intensity ratcheted up, leading to easy transition opportunities. The Red Wolves exploded for 24 points in the quarter while holding the Trojans to 16, taking a 35-32 lead into halftime.

The third quarter belonged to the Trojans, who found their offensive rhythm inside the paint. They outscored the Red Wolves 24-17 in the period, with Salgado scoring eight of her points during the surge, to reclaim a 56-52 lead heading into the final frame.

However, Arkansas State responded with a game-defining run to start the fourth quarter. A 16-2 surge, fueled by turnovers and timely three-point shooting from Shannon and Allen, gave the Red Wolves a 68-58 lead from which the Trojans could not recover. Arkansas-Little Rock was held to just 11 points in the final period, struggling to execute against the relentless Red Wolves defense.

From the floor, Arkansas-Little Rock actually shot a higher percentage, making 24 of 44 attempts (54.5%), while Arkansas State was 23 of 48 (47.9%). The difference came from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line. The Red Wolves connected on 9 of 23 three-point attempts, while the Trojans made only 2 of 9. Arkansas State also attempted 11 more free throws, making 21 of 34 compared to Arkansas-Little Rock’s 17 of 23.

The Trojans dominated points in the paint, 42-28, but it was not enough to overcome the avalanche of points generated by the Red Wolves’ defense.

Arkansas-Little Rock will look to rebound on the road against the University of Arkansas on Thursday. Arkansas State travels to face Central Arkansas on Wednesday.