ST. THOMAS, USVI — Arkansas (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, 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 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.
Hogs 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
Next Game
Arkansas will take the late shift tomorrow at the Paradise Jam, as the team is scheduled to play Clemson at 7 p.m. Coverage of that game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
