FAYETTEVILLE ? Arkansas' Lauren Ervin scored 19 points and grabbing 15 rebounds to lead the Razorbacks women's basketball team to an 89-62 win against Sam Houston State at Bud Walton Arena on Tuesday, setting the university record for best start to a season in school history.
The win moves Arkansas' record to 9-0, breaking the previous best (8-0) set during the 1998-99 season. Sam Houston falls to 1-8.
"I thought we played better tonight, only turning the ball over 10 times," said SHSU head coach Brenda Nichols. "We shot the ball better tonight, but gave up way too much on defense. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. The players' attitudes are good and we are improving each time out."
Arkansas didn't waste any time getting on the board first and taking the Bearkats out of their rhythm early. After getting a 4-0 lead in the opening moments, Sam Houston closed the gap to 7-4, but a 10-0 run over the next two minutes gave Arkansas all the cushion it needed to cruise to victory.
The Razorbacks shot 56 percent from the floor in the opening half while two Arkansas players hit for double figures, Whitney Jones and Lauren Ervin. Most impressive and Jones and Ervin's efforts were that the points came in limited action as neither played more than 10 minutes.
Arkansas' 51-point half was its best first half scoring of the year, eclipsing the 47 point game it produced in the season opener against Lipscomb.
For SHSU, Lydia Gonzales was nearly automatic from the floor in the first half going five for six and scoring 11 points. Included in her one-miss masterpiece was an unbelievable side arm three-point shot around the outstretched arms of an Arkansas defender just before the half. She would end the game leading all scorers with 20 points, going 9-for-15 from the floor for the game.
Gonzales led Bearkat rebounding as well with eight boards.
Whitney Smith added 13 points and Brittney Brooks scored 11. The Bearkats hit 37.9 percent from the field (25-of-66).
Not relenting in the second half, Arkansas' starters poured it on to open the second half and increased its lead to as many as 30. Mass substitutions for the Razorbacks came late in the contest and the change in personnel didn't faze any aspect of the Arkansas game. While Arkansas' scoring may have not been as prominent in the second half, its shot selection was just as good as the first 20 minutes.
Sam Houston State returns home to Johnson Coliseum to host Arkansas-Little Rock Sunday at 3 p.m.
