Golden Hurricane nothing but a light breeze

FAYETTEVILLE – Senior Lauren Ervine led all scorers with 13 points as the University of Arkansas Lady Razorbacks went to 4-0 on the season with a 69-52 win over University of Tulsa in collegiate women’s basketball.

Solid shooting and stout defense led Arkansas to a lead of 27 points midway through the second half, allowing the Lady’Backs to coast to an easy victory.

Ervin added seven boards to her 13 points in the just 25 minutes.

“I thought that we did a pretty good job,” Arkansas head coach Tom Collen said. “I am happy with the win and with being 4-0. I think we are making progress. The frustrating part is when I start to substitute it looks like we lose a bit of the intensity. Their press was ok, but we need to be a little more confident with the ball. This was our fourth game in nine days so it was good to get some players some rest and get other in.”

On the night, Arkansas had one of its best games of the season shooting, hitting 50 percent from the floor and 31 percent from three-point range. The Lady Razorback defensive effort held Tulsa to just 31 percent from the floor.

“I think that our offense is starting to catch up with our defense,” Ervin said. “Our defensive intensity is pretty high. We needed our shooters to hit because it opens the inside for us.”

The Lady Razorbacks jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead and after letting the Golden Hurricane back into the contest, made another bold move to take a seven-point advantage, 14-7. Back-to-back threes by Tulsa’s ReShawndra Jackson cut Arkansas lead to one for the second time in six minutes. The next Lady Razorback run would stick as Arkansas scored the next 14 points to grab a 15-point 28-13 lead. The remainder of the half would see Arkansas outscore the Golden Hurricane by a 2-1 margin and end the half ahead 41-25.

Arkansas’ second half may not have been as productive on the scoreboard as its first, but the Lady Razorbacks maintained a 17-point cushion throughout the final 20 minutes of action. Arkansas’ high-water mark in terms of its lead was 27 points which it accomplished with four minutes to play in the half. Tulsa was able to make a run over the final moments of the game to cut into Arkansas robust lead, but only after the final outcome had been decided.

“This was a good measuring stick for us,” Tulsa coach Charlene Thomas-Swinson said. “We were concerned coming in with Arkansas’ post presence. One factor was Shanita Arnold, she has been in a scoring rut and got out of that tonight. Arkansas is an athletic group that works hard.”

Three Lady Razorbacks scored in double figures on the evening. Along with Ervin’s 13, senior Whitney Jones hit for 12 and Arnold, a career-high 11. Arnold’s night consisted of shooting 4-8 from the floor and an impressive 3-6 from three-point land. Two Golden Hurricane players scored 10 points, Chanel Johnson and Kara Vaughan, both off the bench.

The Lady Razorbacks are on the road for the first time this season on Friday, Nov. 23, against Georgia Southern the Texas-San Antonio Thanksgiving Classic. Game time for Arkansas is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. central. For more information about Lady Razorback basketball or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.