FAYETTEVILLE -- Mike Neighbors said his team is faster than a year ago, and the Razorbacks looked the part in Monday's exhibition game in Walton Arena.
The University of Arkansas women's team got to the basket often and overwhelmed Division II Southwest Baptist 115-53.
Arkansas applied a knockout punch with an 18-0 run keyed by lightning-quick sophomore A'Tyanna Gaulden, a transfer from Florida State, who had seven points. Chelsea Dungee's free throws with 4:21 left in the first quarter gave the Razorbacks a 22-2 lead.
Gaulden led all scorers with 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting, but she had plenty of company as five other Razorbacks scored in double figures.
Dungee, a transfer from Oklahoma playing in her first game, too, added 16 points in 15 minutes. Freshman Rokia Doumbia added 15, Alexis Tolefree 13, Malica Monk 12 and Kiara Williams 10.
Neighbors was pleased with his team's pace, defensive effort and low number of turnovers.
"I thought it was incredibly fast," Neighbors said. "I don't think we made a three for a long time, we got so many half-court layups. I don't know how many points in the paint we got, but it felt like a whole bunch.
"Good night for us to really check a whole lot of boxes. My math is 111 shots combining field goals and free throws and only 10 turnovers. So functionally fast, check. Transition defense was a little spotty at times, but hold a team to 27 percent."
Arkansas set exhibition game records for points scored, margin of victory, field goals made and three-point field goal percentage.
The Razorbacks showed off their outside shooting touch in the second quarter, making 6 of 8 three-pointers. Alexis Tolefree made 3 three-pointers in a row at one point and finished with 11 points in the first half.
Sports on 10/30/2018