The Stetson women's basketball team (5-6) had no answer for host Arkansas's defensive pressure, falling 85-44 Wednesday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas improved to 11-3. Sophomore forward Jessica Conner (Cocoa, Fla.) led the Hatters with 12 points and eight rebounds.
A sloppy first half led to a 30-point deficit, which Stetson never substantially improved upon thereafter. Arkansas slowed the pace in the second half after a first period that was often played at breakneck speed. Stetson was forced into 17 first half turnovers, but commited just four after intermission.
Senior center Ayesha Barkley (East Orange, N.J.) scored eight points while sophomore guard Brittany Carannante (Clearwater, Fla.) tied her career high with seven rebounds. Four players reached double figures for Arkansas, led by Ayana Brereton with 17 points and nine rebounds. 15 of her points were scored in the first half. Shanita Arnold scored 16, Lyndsay Harris had 15 and four assists and Julie Inman scored 11.
After taking a 4-2 lead on a pair of Conner layups, Arkansas turned the Hatters over several times en route to a 9-0 run. Conner scored Stetson's first six points of the game. The Razorbacks, playing their up-tempo, ball-pressure style, took an 11-point lead before Stetson was able to cut the deficit to 21-13 with 11:01 remaining in the first half.
The game quickly got away from Stetson after that due to repeated turnovers that led to Arkansas baskets. The ensuing 8-0 run helped the Razorbacks pull away to a 20-point lead with 4:31 left in the half. By the time the two teams headed to the locker room, Arkansas led 48-18. Stetson did not score for the final 6:08 of the half.
With non-conference play concluded, the Hatters now turn their attention to the remainder of the Atlantic Sun schedule, which re-starts Saturday, January 3 at Belmont in a battle for first place between teams with 2-0 A-Sun records. Tip-off from the Curb Event Center is set for 2 p.m. Central (3 p.m. Eastern). A-Sun.TV will provide the webcast with audio webcast from Murray Miller available through Hatter Vision at www.goHatters.com, the official online home of Stetson Athletics.
