By Troy Littledeer | @troylittledeer
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — First-year coach Kelsi Musick of Canton, Oklahoma, opened her Arkansas tenure with defense and depth as the Razorbacks routed Division II Arkansas-Fort Smith 100-42 in an exhibition Thursday.
While Musick has touted a high-octane, scoring-focused offense since her arrival in March, it was the team’s intensity on defense that stole the show and provided the statistical proof of the win. Arkansas forced UAFS into 33 turnovers and recorded 13 steals, converting those takeaways into 36 points off turnovers. UAFS, by contrast, generated only six points off Arkansas’s 19 turnovers.
Musick, a Canton native, joins a roster anchored by Oklahoma-born players, continuing the state’s strong basketball pipeline into Fayetteville.
“I loved our intensity,” Musick said. “My girls played extremely hard for 40 minutes, and that’s what I expected. The energy, the effort, the passion, the intensity, those were expectations that I definitely fulfilled.”
Oklahoma Natives Lead Attack
Leading the offensive effort were two athletes from Oklahoma with ties to Indian Country. Senior Taleyah Jones of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, led all scorers with 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Jones, a transfer from Oral Roberts, went 10-for-11 from the free-throw line.
Guard Emily Robinson, a Caddo High School graduate from Bokchito, Oklahoma, and a citizen of the Choctaw Nation, helped settle the starting five after early jitters. Robinson scored 10 points on five-of-eight shooting, including two layups that sparked the Razorbacks’ initial run.
Jones praised Robinson’s impact beyond the box score. “She always brings some fire for this team,” Jones said. “She does the little things. She might score, she might not, but she does everything that we need for this team.”
The box score showed that those early struggles were concentrated: Jones (5), Robinson (4), and freshman guard Bonnie Deas (5) accounted for 14 of the team’s 19 turnovers. This confirmed the “early jitters” and the need for the team to clean up ball handling.
Depth and Lawrence’s Rebounding Shine
The victory was defined by depth and balance. The Razorbacks’ bench dominated UAFS, outscoring the Lions 48-6, showcasing the ability of all 11 available players to contribute and support Musick’s fatigue-inducing style.
The team exhibited balanced scoring distribution with six players reaching double figures, fueled by 19 assists on 33 made field goals. Points were distributed efficiently in the paint (48), on fast breaks (14), and via second chances (14).
Junior forward Jenna Lawrence recorded the game’s only double-double with 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Lawrence’s effort was key to the team’s massive 61-34 rebounding advantage. She was critical during Arkansas’s first-quarter 22-0 run, hitting a three-pointer that ballooned the early lead.
Freshman Deas scored 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and tallied five steals. She hounded the Lions in the full court, reflecting the team’s commitment to defense.
“I make it really personal,” Deas said of her defensive effort. “And I think defense is just an effort thing. I just like to give 100% effort when I’m on the court all the time.”
Scoring Goals and Injury Update
Despite the defensive success, Musick reiterated her offensive goals after the team finished 27-of-42 (64%) from the free-throw line.
"We miss a lot of free throws,” Jones said. “I know [Musick] was upset about that, so it’s just something we need to focus on."
Musick’s track record includes coaching teams that consistently rank nationally in scoring. “We want to average at least 85 points a game,” Musick noted. “When you have the opportunity to score, I mean, that’s kind of what I’ve been known for.
Kansas transfer guard Wyvette Mayberry was unavailable as she recovers from an injury. “She won’t be available [for the season opener] Tuesday, more than likely,” Musick said. “But at the same time, she’s recovering quickly, and so she’ll be back really soon.”
The Razorbacks open their regular season at home against Louisiana Tech on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 6:30 p.m.
