Arkansas ends skid with rousing women’s hoops win over Arkansas State

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – It might be a little early in the season to have called Sunday’s Arkansas women’s basketball game a must-win one.

But after the Razorbacks lost their last two games by a combined 70 points, it certainly is not hyperbole to call much-needed one.

Vera Ojenuwa posted career highs of 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead Arkansas to a 76-60 win over Arkansas State at Bud Walton Arena.

Razorback head coach Mike Neighbors and his team improved to 4-3 with the win, which pushed Arkansas’ mark against in-state foes to 19-1.

“It was big,” Neighbors said. “…We flushed (those losses) pretty fast, but it stinks to lose any day, but especially if you get on a little bit of a streak.

“I thought it was important for us to stay above .500. You feel different when you win. I don’t know if we played any better yet. I’ll have to go home and watch, but I think we did.

“…The endorphins that get released, they hormones that come out that come out if you win or lose, they hit you different.”

Former Arkansas State star and current Razorback guard Izzy Higginbottom had 15 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists while Keke Smith added 15 points and 5 assists and Jenna Lawrence 8 points and 10 rebounds.

Carley Keats and Danika Galea added 8 points for Arkansas and Karley Johnson – who got her first start of the season along with Keats – grabbed 7 rebounds.

Higginbottom texted her teammates on Saturday with a list of things she thought they could improve on as a team.

“That’s who she is,” Neighbors said of Higginbottom’s leadership. “The confidence she has in knowing what we need – I am sure that the things were all spot on, every single one of them.

“She knows not only what we are trying to do, but why we are trying to do it and how we are trying to get it accomplished.”

The Nigerian-born Ojenuwa, a 6-4 transfer from Barton County (Kan.) Community College certainly took that to heart.

She hit her first five field goals and ended up connecting on 8 of her 12 attempts and 4 of 5 free throws against the Red Wolves.

“They are not big, they are built around their perimeter players and their guards so we felt like we needed to dominant that spot,” Neighbors said. “You can feel like it all you want and draw it up, but you have to go our and do it.

“That’s a kid that the more at bats she gets, the better she is going to keep being. Just more minutes, more minutes, more understanding.

“She has a very coachable heart. She wants to do well for her team, she wants to do well for her family. Her purpose is the right purpose.”

Arkansas State (2-3) led 38-35 at halftime, but Arkansas scored the first four points of the third quarter and methodically built its lead throughout the rest of the contest.

“We started getting all the 50-50 balls,” Neighbors said. “I think it was like 90-10 in that third quarter. The effort was much better. I thought our focus was a lot better and I think, with our particular group, they have a desire to please.

“The conversation at halftime was not hell fire and brimstone. It was not even close. It was very controlled, it was all tangible. It wasn’t just play harder.

“…I thought we had great improvement from Thursday to Sunday.”

Annaliese Griffin had 16 points and Kennedy Montue 13 for the Red Wolves.

Arkansas will get back to action on Friday afternoon at 4:45 p.m. CST when it plays Oklahoma State in Dayton Beach (Fla.) Classic.

The Razorbacks will also play Bowling Green on Saturday at 12:15 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Razorbacks Communications