Vaughn Jones lead the way against Austin Peay 61-48

FAYETTEVILLE – A season high 18 points by Whitney Jones paced four Lady Razorbacks with double-digits as the University of Arkansas defeats Austin Peay State, 61-48, in college women’s basketball,

Arkansas (3-0) took command of the game in the final minutes, pulling away from a pesky APSU (0-2).

“Coach wanted us to finish, and tonight we did,” senior point guard Brittney Vaughn said. “We did and we played until the end.”

In each half, Arkansas struggled to get its first shot. After allowing APSU to tie the game at 30-30, an 8-0 run by the Lady’Backs opened up the first large lead of the game, 38-30, with 13 minutes to play.

“When we went in at half, we realized we had to take our intensity up at halftime,” UA head coach Tom Collen said.

“I knew we had to step up our game tonight,” Jones said.

Jones and the Lady’Backs pounded the ball down low with 42 points in the paint compared to only 12 for APSU.

The Lady Governors stayed close until a Vaughn three-point play with 5:20 left put Arkansas ahead by double-digits for the first time, 52-42.

It was part of a 17-2 run down the stretch that saw Arkansas lead by as many as 17, 59-42, with just over two minutes to play.

“Brittney Vaughn played one of her best games at Arkansas,” Collen said.

Vaughn finished with 15 points and six rebounds.

Lauren Ervin closed with 10 points and Ayana Brereton 12. Both had eight rebounds each to lead all players on the boards.

Arkansas opened the game cold, missing its first seven field goals. Austin Peay stumbled to a 5-1 lead, and did not get a rebound against the powerful Lady’Back inside game for the first three and a half minute of the game.

After the slow start, Arkansas hit 6 of it next 10 shots to lead 13-11. Neither team could put together a significant run to take control of the game.

Nine lead changes and three ties went by before Arkansas went on a 6-3 run to take its first significant lead of the game, 28-24, with 2:07 left in the half, and carried the lead into halftime, 30-26.

Alex Bivens led APSU with 13 points and 12 for Amber Bacon.

The Lady’Backs host Tulsa on Tuesday, Nov. 20.