FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Kara Lawson scored 19 points as No. 2
Tennessee overcame poor shooting early and outlasted Arkansas 76-61
on Sunday.
|  | | Tennessee's Kara Lawson, left, and Arkansas' Lakishia Harper battle for a loose ball. |
A 3-pointer by Wendy Willits brought the Razorbacks (9-5,
0-2 Southeastern Conference) within 63-57 with 4:03 to play. But
Tennessee (14-1, 2-0) outscored Arkansas 13-4 down the stretch.
Lawson scored 14 points in the second half and Tamika Catchings
scored all of her 15 points in the final period. Catchings had a
game-high nine rebounds.
"We hung tough," Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said. "We are
working hard to get a balanced offense. We had that. This was a
hard-fought win. Kara Lawson put forth the best effort at both
ends."
Gwen Jackson added 12 for the Volunteers, Semeka Randall
added 11 and Michelle Snow scored 10.
Wright led Arkansas with 13 points and Dana Cherry scored 11.
"It was a great defensive effort, but you have to shoot the
ball," Arkansas coach Gary Blair said. "We went after it with
three minutes to go in the game. We called a timeout and we were
going to go after them, but they hit their free throws."
Catchings answered Willits' 3-pointer with a layup and then
Randall converted a three-point play for a 68-57 Vols lead.
Tennessee led 27-21 at the half, partly because Arkansas shot
only 7-for-36 during the first 20 minutes. The poor shooting
included 0-for-7 by Willits and 1-for-6 by Celia Anderson. Tennessee
shot 10-for-27 in the opening half.
"The first half, we were impatient," Summitt said. "The
second half, we were patient. We are starting to play together."
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ALSO SEE
Women's College Basketball Scoreboard
Tennessee Clubhouse
Arkansas Clubhouse
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