FAYETTEVILLE — The 21st-ranked Arkansas women’s basketball team got Arkansas State’s best shot Sunday, but it avoided an upset and won 77-63 behind strong fourth-quarter defense.
Arkansas (12-0) held ASU to 12 points on 23.1% shooting in the final quarter to stave off the visitors. The Razorbacks never trailed, but ASU stayed within striking distance for most of the afternoon.
After pulling within six points with seven minutes left remaining, the Red Wolves were held without another made field goal.
“For us to be able to default onto that when our shots aren't going in and we're struggling offensively is huge for us,” Arkansas’ Jersey Wolfenbarger said of the defense. “It's definitely something new to our game that we've added. To be able to contest their shots and keep them from getting those wide-open threes and run outs, it kind of kills their pace.
“And it makes them have to take really tough shots.”
The game had a frenetic pace out the gates. Wolfenbarger and Chrissy Carr got the scoring started for Arkansas, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers.
Senior forward Erynn Barnum got going inside, scoring six points over a roughly three-minute stretch, but the Red Wolves were able to hang around thanks to their hot shooting.
More from WholeHogSports: Latest Razorbacks football recruiting news
Arkansas State (4-5) shot 60% from the floor, including 3 of 6 from three, in the first quarter. Missouri transfer Izzy Higginbottom scored seven points in the frame to keep ASU close. The Razorbacks led 24-23 after the first quarter.
“We got exactly what we expected out of Arkansas State,” Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors said. “They're a really, really good offensive team. They really stretched us out early in the game. They got great look after great look.
“First quarter, I think I they shot like 60%. We turned them over a few times, but if we weren't turning them over, they were making shots. It felt like we settled in a little bit.”
The Razorbacks’ forwards made their impact felt in the second quarter. Barnum scored back-to-back layups but picked up her second personal foul, forcing her to sit for the final eight minutes of the half.
Maryam Dauda stepped up in her absence and scored 11 first-half points.
The duo combined for 21 points in the first half as Arkansas outscored ASU 26-10 in the paint. The Razorbacks finished with 40 paint points.
“I thought Erynn was phenomenal, and Maryam was unbelievable,” Neighbors said. “Both of those two kids. I do feel like we probably could have thrown it in there every single possession and maybe good things would've happened.”
Arkansas was able to string together a 9-0 run in second quarter, capped by Wolfenbarger’s second three-pointer. The Red Wolves kept things within reach through the half – trailing 43-35 at the break – helped by five threes of their own.
“There were a couple times where my team could have laid down,” Arkansas State coach Destinee Rogers said. “They started hitting a couple shots, kind of going on a run, but I felt like we didn't lay down. I told my team at the end of the game we didn't have anything to hold our heads about.”
Barnum picked up in the second half right where she left off. She scored 16 points in the game on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting day.
“Erynn's tough,” Wolfenbarger said. “That's what I would use to describe Erynn. She definitely gives us a lot of momentum. I get really excited for her plays just because it's just Erynn.
“She has that energy and she has that fight. I think that bleeds into our team.”
Arkansas grabbed its largest lead of the game early in the third quarter at 51-35 on a Wolfenbarger layup. The sophomore from Fort Smith, who started for the third time this season, scored 15 points to go with six rebounds.
“My teammates need me to have that confidence,” Wolfenbarger said. “I think that starting out as the aggressor really helps me get into the flow of the game quickly.”
Arkansas State continued to hang around. The Red Wolves got within 65-59 with seven minutes left on a Mailyn Wilkerson three. It was the final field goal ASU would hit.
Neighbors said he hopes to see his team apply the same intensity throughout games.
“It makes me sleep better most nights,” he said of the defense. “But now I'm up nights wondering why we don't do it the whole game. I am baffled. We may just be that team that is going to play however we have to play that night, I don't know.
“I don't want to be that team. I hate being that team. I want us to have a standard that we play to all the time.”
Samara Spencer led Arkansas with 19 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, in a full 40 minutes. She went 7 of 10 from the free throw line, an improvement from her 6-of-16 performance against Lamar on Thursday.
A game removed from 20 turnovers and 45.2% (14-31) shooting at the foul line, Arkansas improved in both categories. The Razorbacks committed 11 turnovers and shot 73.1% (19-26) from the stripe against ASU.
Higginbottom led the Red Wolves with 19 points and Lauryn Pendleton added 12.
It was the first time an Arkansas State basketball team, men’s or women’s, has played inside Bud Walton Arena.
“I think that's a big deal for our state,” Rogers said. “We really enjoyed this game. We love playing them – such a great team, coached really well. My challenge to my team today was we just wanted to show up and be tough.
“We wanted to compete, we wanted to fight for four quarters. I really felt like my team did that.”
Up next for the Razorbacks, who are one of 12 remaining unbeaten Division I teams, is a game at No. 18 Creighton on Saturday.