Lady'Backs roll at home in Exhibition
FAYETTEVILLE – Senior Brittney Vaughn scored 14 points to lead the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback basketball team to a 30-point, 78-48 win against Missouri Southern State University in an exhibition game on Saturday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Vaughn picked off a school-record for exhibition games seven steals as Arkansas’ offense took control from the opening tip. The Lady Razorbacks forced 33 turnovers from MSSU and converted them into 40 points.
The Lady’Backs scored the first points of the contest on a Lauren Ervin layup and never looked back. Taking the early lead, Arkansas would score the game’s first six points and 14 of the opening 16. Missouri Southern would cut the lead to six with 14 minutes to play in the first half, but another Arkansas run, this time 8-1 over two minutes gave the Lady’Backs an 11-point cushion that would dip below 10 just one time between 11:55 in the first half and the end of the contest.
“I felt that the effort was outstanding today,” Arkansas head coach Susie Gardner said. “Brittney got us going, but it was hard to get everyone equal playing time, so I played the rookies a little more. I think because we moved the season up a week one exhibition game is all right. Our experienced players are ready.”
Arkansas was able to dominate the floor in all facets of the game thanks in large part to its size and speed. The Lady Razorbacks were able to work down low for most of the contest and get several breakaways on steals at half court. The robust lead for the Lady Razorbacks allowed Arkansas to play its entire compliment of 11 available players, with every player scoring and all but one getting 12 minutes or more on the floor.
Behind Vaughn’s 14, Tanisha Smith scored 12 and Sarah Pfeifer had 10 with Ervin grabbing a game high 10 rebounds. Missouri Southern’s Dana-Mae Robbs led all scorers with 19 points. While the Lady Razorbacks dominated the action on the floor, it only shot 39 percent for the game and just 63 percent from the charity stripe. The Lady Razorback defense stepped up to the challenge though keeping Missouri Southern to 34 percent from the floor and causing 33 Lady Lion turnovers.
“We were looking to push the ball a little bit,” Vaughn said. “We’re looking for quick scores. The defense starts with me. We’re trying to get our hands on the ball and get easy baskets.”
The Lady Razorbacks are back in action on Friday evening when they open their regular season at Clemson. For more information about Lady Razorback basketball or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to LADYBACKS.COM.
