FAYETTEVILLE - The Arkansas women’s basketball team used a 14-2 run in the final 5:40 of the first half to take control as it cruised to a 78-44 victory over Missouri State on Friday night at Walton Arena.
Arkansas had trouble with Missouri State’s 3-2 zone midway through the first half and went six minutes without scoring while the Lady Bears (1-3) scored nine consecutive points and were within 18-13.
“We had worked against their 3-2 zone, but we just failed to remember what we were supposed to do to attack it during a stretch,” Arkansas Coach Tom Collen said.
Once they figured it out, the Razorbacks (5-0) never looked back.
Freshman Jessica Jackson scored five points and Arkansas used back-to-back layups by senior Keira Peak in the run en route to a 32-15 halftime lead.
“It was a good win for us,” Collen said. “Missouri State has been a good rivalry for us, and we knew they would play hard. Once we got better shots against their zone we started pulling away.
“We are still turning the ball over too much and not rebounding like I want to, but overall, I’m happy to be 5-0.”
The Razorbacks shot 55 percent against Missouri State and scored 22 points off turnovers. Peak was 7 of 10, scored 16 points and had 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Freshman Kelsey Brooks hit 3 three-pointers and scored 15, Jackson added 12 and freshman McKenzie Adams 10.
“We were passing the ball well, and a lot of people were able to get a lot of shots,” Peak said.
The Lady Bears committed 21 turnovers and shot just 27 percent, including 2 of 12 from three-point range. They got as close as 19 early in the second half, but the Razorbacks used a pair of three-pointers from Brooks and five points from Peak over a five minute stretch and led 55-26.
“It all started with my defense,” said Peak, the team’s lone senior, who scored 20 points in a victory over Middle Tennessee State on Tuesday. “My defense turns to my offense, and if I’m pressuring the ball then my offense can really get going.”
Arkansas closed out the game with a 13-3 run.
“’I’ve started to have some confidence in this young team,” Collen said. “We are on the right road.”
Arkansas plays its sixth consecutive home game to open the season at 2 p.m. Sunday against Western Michigan before hitting the road for the first time next week in a Thanksgiving tournament in Albuquerque, N.M.
Sports, Pages 32 on 11/23/2013