Women's hoops adds transfer

FAYETTEVILLE – Point guard Erin Gatling joins the University of Arkansas women’s basketball team, head coach Tom Collen announced this week.

Gatling is a Van Buren, Ark., native and three-year starter for the Pointers. She attended Southern Mississippi for two seasons before returning to the Natural State.

"Erin is a great fit for our system," Collen said. "We really wanted to add depth and experience to our point guard position and Erin helps us fill that need. We know we are getting a young lady with a lot of toughness both mentally and physically and that she loves Arkansas. I wish she were eligible immediately but I know she’ll make us a better team by pushing our other point guards every day in practice."

Gatling must sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules.

In her two seasons at Southern Mississippi, Gatling led the team in free throw percentage her freshman season and was the team’s leader in steals and assists as a sophomore. She paced the Golden Eagles to a conference runner-up finish in the 2008-09 season.

In addition, Gatling was a member of the conference honor roll with a 3.12 grade point average in exercise science.

Gatling averaged 16.0 ppg and 6.5 apg at Van Buren High. She concluded her prep career as the Pointers’ all-time leading scorer with 1,127 points and led the team in assists, steals and free throws made.

She was an all-conference and all-state selection in basketball and also letters in track and field. She won the 800-meter state champion as a prepster and still ranks among the state’s leaders in the 800.

Gatling to the daughter of David and Cheryl Gatling and has two siblings, Chris and Jacob.

Arkansas finished the 2009-10 season with a 12-18 record. Seniors Charity Ford and Ashley McCray concluded their careers for the Cardinal and White but the Razorback coaching staff has been busy on the recruiting trail.

Gatling joins Keira Peak, Yashira Delgado, Christassia Walters and Darshae Burnside as next season’s newcomers.