Neighbors Earns 200th Win in Game One of Paradise Jam

ST. THOMAS, USVI – Arkansas women’s basketball (6-0) earned a hard-fought win over Northern Arizona (3-3) in the first of three games at the Paradise Jam. NAU led for 10 minutes in the first half, but after a 12-0 run by Arkansas before halftime, the Razorbacks never looked back. Samara Spencer played a big role in the Razorbacks finding a roll, finishing with a career-high 27 points off 10 field goals. With the 82-73 win, head coach Mike Neighbors secured his 200th career win.

The Razorbacks could not capitalize on the first two possessions, but a Saylor Poffenbarger 3-pointer got Arkansas on the board. The game was tied at 7-7 with 6:01 left in he first, but Spencer knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Razorbacks back up by one, 10-9. NAU then went on a 7-2 run, as Arkansas trailed 16-12 at the media timeout with 3:37 left in the first quarter. Arkansas started to heat up with huge thanks to Makayla Daniels, whose 3-point play put the Razorbacks back ahead, 17-16. The Razorbacks had the 20-18 advantage after the first 10 minutes of play.

NAU took the lead back off a 3-pointer and put up another one on the next possession to retake the lead by four. Poffenbarger continued to perform on both ends of the floor with a spin move to the basket, as the Razorbacks trailed 26-24 halfway through the second quarter. A Spencer triple put the Razorbacks back ahead, 31-29, with a little over two minutes left in the game. The Razorbacks kept cruising with a Poffenbarger 3-pointer and a Spencer layup just before the buzzer sounded. Arkansas trailed for the better part of the second quarter but closed out the frame on a 12-0 run to lead 38-29 at the half.

The Lumberjacks came out of the locker room on a 5-0 run. Erynn Barnum gave the Razorbacks their first basket out of halftime off a layup. Arkansas then went on an 8-2 run. NAU would not back down and knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the Razorback lead to seven. At the media timeout, Arkansas had the 48-39 advantage. Arkansas took a 20-point lead following a Maryam Dauda layup and a free throw. NAU made a 3-pointer to finish the third, as the Razorbacks were ahead, 61-46 after 30 minutes of play.

Spencer could not be stopped in the paint, as a layup got her up to 20 points for her second 20-piece of the season. Arkansas led 65-51 a few minutes into the fourth quarter. An NAU 3-point play helped the Lumberjacks get within eight, but a Spencer 3-pointer pushed the Razorbacks back up by double digits. NAU drained another 3-pointer to cut the Arkansas lead to seven with a little under seven minutes in the game. Barnum got a layup and Spencer followed with another layup to inch up to 27 points, as Arkansas led by 12 with 1:29 left in the game. After NAU cut the lead down to single digits once again, Arkansas was clutch down the stretch, making 5-of-6 shots from the line in the final minute. Arkansas pulled away with an 82-73 win.

HOG HIGHLIGHTS

• Spencer logged a career-high 27 points off 10-of-21 shooting from the field. She tallied three 3-pointers, as well as drew 10 fouls, pulled down four rebounds and captured four steals
• Daniels was solid once again with 18 points off 5-of-10 shooting. She was 8-of-9 from the charity stripe and drew eight fouls, logged four assists and had two steals
• Poffenbarger was dealing today with a career-high 13 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal
• Barnum logged seven points and seven boards
• The Razorbacks continue to outrebound opponents, doing so tonight, 42-38
• Arkansas forced 28 turnovers

UP NEXT

Arkansas will take the late shift tomorrow at the Paradise Jam, as the team is scheduled to play Clemson at 7 p.m. CT, 9 p.m. local time. Coverage of that game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

MORE INFORMATION

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