Waktins has 21, Daniels 17 in Razorback win

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - For the second consecutive game, the University of Arkansas had two post players in double figures leading the Razorbacks to a 69-47 win over No. 25/22 Vanderbilt in Southeastern Conference action at Bud Walton Arena Thursday.

    Arkansas moves to 13-5 overall and 2-4 in the SEC while Vanderbilt falls to 14-4 overall and 2-3 in the league.  It is the second consecutive game in which the Razorbacks had two post players in double figures.

    "It was a great win for us," Arkansas head coach Tom Collen said.  "We came out from the opening tip and played hard.  Sarah and Ashley played so well in the post tonight.  They passed the ball well and took pretty good care of the ball.  The team really went out and got it done."

    The Razorbacks came out with another gear to start the game.  Vanderbilt scored the first basket but Arkansas went on a 17-2 run to take a 17-4 lead at the halfway mark.  The defense forced six early turnovers, blocked three shots and picked up two steals as the lead climbed to 16 in the first frame.

    Arkansas shot nearly 50 percent in the first 10 minutes with six players scoring.  Watkins was in double-figures at the seven minute mark of the half and Calli Berna set a career mark for assists.  Watkins finished the frame with 12 points and Berna with seven assists in the first 20 minutes.

    Vanderbilt put together a run late in the half and closed the gap to 10 but Arkansas still found fire with the clock ticking down.

    The Commodores knocked the ball out with eight seconds left in the half.  Arkansas in bounded the ball and C'eira Ricketts drove the right side of the court.  She crossed inside the three point line and kicked the ball out to Lyndsay Harris on the right perimeter.  Harris hit the three as the buzzer sounded sending Arkansas into the locker room up 37-24.

    The second half started as the first did with Vanderbilt scoring first but Arkansas kept the pressure on and continued to shoot well as the game continued.  Arkansas grew the lead to 20 but Vanderbilt picked up their intensity inside and tried to close the gap.  As the game got more physical, Arkansas was successful from the foul line allowing the Razorbacks to maintain the lead.

    Vanderbilt switched up the defense moving into a zone and that kept Arkansas from shooting the three-pointers as effectively.  The Razorbacks, however, continued to get the ball inside to its posts scoring 30 points in the paint for the game.

    Watkins led all scorers with 21 points followed by Daniels' 17.  Harris finished with nine, Ricketts and Quiestelle Williams had eight each.

    Arkansas finished the game shooting 40.6 percent going 26-for-64 from the floor including 15-for-18 from the line.

    The Razorbacks travel to LSU Sunday as SEC action continues.

    For more information regarding Razorback women's basketball or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

NOTES

-Arkansas is 6-20 all-time against Vanderbilt

-Arkansas is 5-7 against Vanderbilt in Fayetteville

-Arkansas travels to LSU Sunday for a game that is televised by FSN

-Thursday's game was part of the SEC's We Back Pat week

-Arkansas started three seniors (C'eira Ricketts, Lyndsay Harris, Ashley Daniels), one junior (Sarah Watkins) and a sophomore (Dominique Robinson)

-Freshman Calli Berna finished with a career-best eight assists

-For the second consecutive game, Arkansas had two post players in double-figures in Sarah Watkins and Ashley Daniels

-Second most points in an SEC game this year

-The win is the second of the year over a ranked team (No. 13 Florida State)

-Sarah Watkins ties career-best with six blocks and season-high 21 points