Smith has perfect second half at East Carolina

Senior guard Rae-Anne Smith scored a career-high 29 points, including 22 in a perfect-shooting second half, to lead Arkansas State to a 72-69 victory over host East Carolina in the consolation game of the U.S. Cellular Classic at Williams Arena on Sunday.

Smith was 6-of-6 from the field and 9-for-9 from the free throw line in the final 20 minutes as ASU came back from a seven-point second-half deficit.

"This was incredible," said ASU head coach Brian Boyer of Smith's performance.
"I've seen some very good individual performances in my seven seasons at Arkansas State, and that will stand up with some of the best. Rae really took it on her shoulders. It was just an incredible job. She was key for us in some big spots."

The Lady Indians evened their record at 4-4 with the win.

Junior forward Jolie McKeirnan scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for ASU, which shot 56 percent in the second half and 47 percent for the game.

ECU dropped to 1-5 with the loss. The Pirates were led by Kim Enoch's 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Enoch was one of four ECU players scoring in double figures.

Shanita Sutton scored 14 points, Jennifer Jackson added 11 points and Tali Robich scored 10 points, all in the second half.

ASU led by five points, 28-23, at intermission despite shooting 39 percent from the field and turning the ball over 10 times in the opening half.

Smith had seven at halftime and McKeirnan had seven rebounds. ECU shot 31 percent in the opening half and turned the ball over 14 times but stayed close by outrebounding the Lady Indians, 23-17, including 10 offensive boards.

A 9-0 run midway through the second half took the Pirates from a six-point deficit to a four-point advantage, 41-37, with 11:34 left in the game.

ECU built a seven-point advantage at 48-41 on a Jackson basket with 9:38 to play at 48-41.

But Smith heated up, scoring 19 points in the final 8:37 of the contest as Arkansas State battled back.

A pair of free throws by Smith with 3:27 to play cut ASU's deficit to 59-57 and senior center Chiquita Tucker followed with a lay-up with 3:13 left to tie the game at 59-all.

Freshman guard Amber Abraham capped a 7-0 run by ASU with a 3-pointer with 2:38 to play to put the Lady Indians up, 62-59.

ECU scored back-to-back baskets off Lady Indians turnovers to go ahead 63-62 with 1:37 to play, but Smith's steal and lay-up gave the Lady Indians the lead for good, 64-63, with 1:32 to play.

Tucker followed with a lay-up with 53.7 to play for a three-point advantage and Smith hit six free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal Arkansas State's victory.
ASU returns to action on Wednesday night, taking on Northern Iowa at the Convocation Center at 7:05 p.m.

Courtesy of Sports Information

Photo by Brian Rodriguez

Senior guard Rae-Anne Smith (23) tallied a career high 29 points against the Lady Pirates of East Carolina, Saturday.