Lady'Backs cruise past Missouri Southern 85-59

FAYETTEVILLE – Junior Sheree Thompson and sophomore Brittney Vaughn each scored 15 points to lead six Lady Razorbacks in double digits as the University of Arkansas basketball team picked up an 85-59 win over Missouri Southern State University at Bud Walton Arena on Friday night in the Lady’Backs final exhibition game. The Lady’Backs got their second win of the preseason, and saw improvements. “We are definitely a work in progress,” said Arkansas head coach Susie Gardner. “Tonight, we worked on the half-court game and we need to do some fine tuning for next week. We have a ways to go before it’s a finished product.” On cruise control throughout the second half, Arkansas used an improved half court defense to maintain its 20-plus point lead. The Lady Razorbacks continued to step into passing lanes to create turnovers while crashing the boards on the offensive side of the court. For the contest, the Lady’Backs picked up 19 offensive boards compared to Missouri Southern’s 12 as the Lady’Backs prevented the Lions from many second chance or fast point breaks. “I think we did better on free throws and getting open shots tonight,” Rochelle Vaughn said. An ugly game from the outset, neither team was able to make their shots as the two schools combined to make just six of the first 19 shots over the opening five minutes. An 8-6 game, Arkansas would then go on a stellar run over the next 10 minutes to build a huge advantage. Scoring 16 of the next 18 points, Arkansas would carry their momentum into the final five minutes of play and hold the Lions to just eight more points and own a commanding 37-16 lead at the break. Helping Arkansas in the effort was another half of strong defense that forced 14 Missouri Southern turnovers that led to 14 Lady Razorback points. Arkansas pressured the Lions all over the floor, but the stark improvement came in the half court set where they were able to limit Missoui Southern’s quality chances and keep the Lions at a 20-percent shooting mark. Along with Vaughn and Thompson, freshman Ayanna Brereton scored 12 and senior Rochelle Vaughn and freshman Dominque Washington tallied 11. Missouri Southern’s Dana-Mae Robbs led all scorers with 17 points on 5-7 from the floor and a perfect 7-7 from the charity stripe. Vaughn was the game’s lone competitor to tally a double-double as she also pulled down 10 rebounds. Arkansas begins its regular season next Friday night, Nov. 18, when it takes on Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.