Arkansas scores 106 versus SHSU

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — With the first bucket of the second half, sophomore Ashley Daniels recorded her first career double-double helping the University of Arkansas to a win over Sam Houston State in Bud Walton Arena Tuesday.

Arkansas (8-5) picked up the 106-78 win over the Bearkats (3-7) with six players in double figures and every player scoring in the game. It is the first time since 2001 that the Razorbacks have broken the century point mark.

Daniels finished the night with a career-best 16 points and cleaned the glass with a career-high 17 boards in the win. Sophomore Lyndsay Harris led all scorers with 21 followed by 19 from senior Charity Ford. Freshman Quistelle Williams scored a career-high 13 with 12 from sophomore C’eira Ricketts and a season-best 10 from junior Brittany Richardson for Arkansas.

“A lot’s been said about our lack of offense recently and we needed to get back on track and play with some confidence. I think we did that tonight,” Arkansas head coach Tom Collen said. “We played relaxed and I’m especially pleased with the first-half effort in regards to turnovers. The level of competition is going up next week and this was a good stepping off point.”

Arkansas finished the game shooting 52.1 percent and hit seven three-pointers in the game. Arkansas was a season-best 25-for-31 for 80.6 percent from the free throw line.

An 8-for-8 performance from the line and two players in double figures paced the Razorbacks to first-half 50-36 lead over SHSU. Harris was 5-for-8 with three three-pointers leading all scorers with 13 and Williams had 11 as the Razorbacks led by as many as 16 in the opening frame.

Daniels had 10 rebounds, five offensive and five defensive, at the break as the Razorbacks held a 27-18 advantage on the boards. Arkansas also did a nice job taking care of the ball with just four turnovers forcing six Bearkat giveaways in the first half.

Arkansas shot 46.3 percent from the floor and was 4-for-10 from beyond the arc. They held SHSU to a 38.2 shooting percentage from the floor to take the halftime lead.

The Bearkats’ scrappy play gave Arkansas some challenges early in the game. SHSU was able to keep the game close until the six-minute mark of the first half when Arkansas got a three-pointer from Harris pushing the lead to 11.

Freshman Sarah Watkins added a jumper in the paint stretching the lead to 13 as the Razorbacks extended the lead to 16 late in the frame.

The second half began with a 16-point Razorback advantage and Arkansas would never look back. Arkansas led by as much as 32, 103-73, with under a minute to play before finishing with the 28 point victory.

“Our plan was to go inside,” Daniels said. “We wanted to play strong tonight and I think we were able to do that.”

“It’s hard to come off the break and play well,” Harris added. “We knew it was important to come out and get a win to jump start SEC play.”

The game also signaled the return of junior Ashlea Williams to the lineup. Williams has battled injury all season and played six minutes with two points and a rebound in her return.

The SHSU game is the final non-conference game of the season. The Razorbacks host Florida Feb. 3 and LSU Feb. 7, in the longest home stand of the 2009-10 season.

Download: Arkansas-Sam Houston State.pdf