Watkins Powers Arkansas Past Ole Miss, 77-66
By: U of A Media Relations
Updated: January 31, 2013
OXFORD,
Miss. -
University of Arkansas senior Sarah Watkins dropped in a career-best 28 points
leading the Razorbacks to a 77-66 Southeastern Conference win against Ole Miss
in Oxford, Miss., Thursday.
Watkins was 11-for-15, going 6-for-7 from
the line and pulling in five rebounds helping the Razorbacks (15-6, 3-5 SEC) to
just the second-ever win in Oxford, Miss., in program
history.
"Sarah was tough tonight," Arkansas head
coach Tom Collen said. "We need games like that from her as we continue through
the SEC season. That was our game plan going in as we knew Ole Miss was not big
inside."
Ole Miss took the early lead with the hot
shooting hand in the opening 10 minutes of play. The Lady Rebels' aggressive
trapping defense prevented Arkansas from getting the ball inside and Ole Miss
forced the Razorbacks to handle the ball away from the
basket.
Arkansas, meanwhile, started the game
4-for-13 from the floor as Ole Miss (8-13, 1-7 SEC) opened the lead. A media
timeout allowed the Razorbacks to make some adjustments and the Razorbacks put
together a 6-for-7 run in four minutes closing within one,
23-23.
The Razorbacks tied the game at 25 when
Keira Peak drove the lane, was fouled and hit the bonus shot. The contest was
much more closely contested for the rest of the half despite foul trouble for
both teams. The game see-sawed back-and-forth before Arkansas grabbed the lead
again on a basket from Peak, at the 3:30 mark.
Arkansas maintained the lead going into the
locker room with a 38-35 advantage. The 38 points is the highest point total in
an SEC game this season.
Watkins was tough under the hoop in the
final 12 minutes in the opening stanza. The Germantown, Tenn., native scored a
game-high 16 points and finished with just one foul in the first 20
minutes.
Watkins picked up where she left off in the
second half and scored well in the paint. The game remained tight for about the
first eight minutes of the second half until Watkins along with Quistelle
Williams and Peak really heated up leading Arkansas on a 20-3 run that put the
game out of reach for the Lady Rebels.
Arkansas has played some close, defensive
games in their last three contests but the offense came to life tonight. The
Razorbacks shot 48.4 percent with their best point total, 77, in Oxford. The
Razorbacks shot 53.3 percent in the second half behind
Watkins.
Sophomore Jhasmin Bowen added 14 points,
while Peak and Williams scored 12 each. Arkansas also won the rebounding
battle. 44-37, and took good care of the basketball with just nine
turnovers.
Sophomore Calli Berna was key to the post
players' success. She was credited with eight assists and six rebounds. Berna
played 40 minutes without a turnover and she blocked one
shot.
"This is a great win as we head into the
next road game," Collen said. "We need this momentum as the season
continues."
Arkansas scored 48 points in the paint and
34 from the bench.
The Razorbacks continue the SEC road trip
traveling to Starkville, Miss., for a Sunday game at Mississippi State. The
game airs live on FSN with a 2 p.m. central
tip.
