Lady'Backs rain threes on Ladyjacks parade

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Freshman Donica Cosby put on a three-point clinic to lead the #24 University of Arkansas Lady Razorback women’s basketball team to a convincing 75-54 victory over Stephen F. Austin in Hot Springs, Ark., on Wednesday evening.

With the victory, Arkansas ties the school record for the best start in school history with 13-1, a mark set during the 1996-97 season.

Cosby’s day saw her bury seven three-point baskets, two off the Arkansas school record set by Wendi Willits in 1999. Her 23 points were one off her career high of 24 which she set against Hawaii.

“We can tell when Donica is in a zone, and when she’s on, she’s a great player to coach and to have as a teammate,” UA head coach Susie Gardner said.

Three-point goals proved to be the major difference in the game as the Lady’Backs hit a season-tying 11 three-pointers and a season high 50% from behind the arc. Meanwhile, SFA shot nine three-pointers before finally hitting their 10th attempt, finishing with a mere 18.2% for treys.

Coming out of the gates slowly, Arkansas spotted SFA an 8-2 lead before Dominque Washington buried a three from the right corner. The shot sparked an 8-1 run that gave the Lady’Backs their first lead of the contest, 10-9. The Ladyjacks would keep pace with Arkansas shot-for-shot over the first nine minutes of action. The Lady Razorbacks however would have none of Stephen F. Austin’s antics and went on a 10-0 run over four-plus minutes on the back of a pair of three-pointers by Cosby.

Arkansas’ three-point shooting was a major factor over the opening 20 minutes as the Lady Razorbacks scored nearly half their first-half total from behind the arc. Cosby was the catalyst as she drained four of her five attempts to give Arkansas a 21-point lead at the break, 38-26.

With the lead and momentum, Arkansas did not look back in the second half as they used strong defense and solid shooting to slowly but surely increase its lead. The Ladyjacks would make mini runs throughout the final 20 minutes of action, but each was met by a Lady Razorback counter. Arkansas’ three-point shooting continued to be a boon to its efforts as the Lady Razorbacks’ rain of three-point baskets continuously robbed the wind from Stephen F. Austin’s sails.

The Lady Razorbacks placed two players in double figures, Cosby with 23 and Lauren Ervin, 13, and watched Ervin grab nine boards. For the game Arkansas shot a fair 40 percent from the floor, but its 11 three-point buckets tied a season high set previously against Texas Southern at the beginning of December.

For Stephen F. Austin, Charity Egenti led the Ladyjacks with a game high 24 points and was masterful in the lane. Sinking 12 of her 19 shots, she also grabbed eight rebounds in 32 minutes of play.

The Lady Razorbacks get a break from competition for the next seven days and return to the court on Dec. 28, when they take on Cincinnati at Bud Walton Arena. For more information about Lady Razorback basketball or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to LADYBACKS.COM.