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UA women win from startROB KEYSARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FAYETTEVILLE -- Celia Anderson has proven she can get the job done in an exhibition game. All that's left is to see what she'll do in the regular season, which Arkansas begins Saturday at Memphis. Anderson, a senior from Little Rock, scored 14 points Tuesday night as Arkansas beat Athletes in Action 73-50 before 1,828 at Walton Arena. It was the second strong outing for Anderson in two exhibition games. Anderson made 7 of 8 shots and scored 22 points in 15 minutes last week in Arkansas' 94-76 victory over an Australian touring team. Anderson wasn't quite as hot against Athletes in Action, making 7 of 12 shots, but still was too much for the defense to handle on the low block. Anderson added seven rebounds, including three offensive ones she converted into points. Despite the performance, Anderson deflected credit to senior guard Wendi Willits for drawing the attention of the defense early in the game. "With Wendi on the floor, you always have a defense that keys on her, which opens up the inside for me," Anderson said. "So the fact that we started together is what opened up the inside for me. It really had nothing to do with me." Former Lady Razorback Karyn Karlin, who led Athletes in Action with a game-high 20 points, gave Anderson more credit. "She's just hard to guard," said Karlin, who is pursuing a professional career in Australia after completing her eligibility at Arkansas last season. "I think she realizes it's her last year and she wants to give it all she's got." Arkansas also got 11 points from senior forward Lonniya Bragg and 10 from redshirt freshman center Katrina Nesby. "We've got to get Lonni the ball more," Arkansas Coach Gary Blair said. "But here's the thing right now -- Celia's open so much, sometimes you've just go to [give her the ball]. But Lonni's going to get her touches because Celia's not going to be in the game as long as Lonni, and Lonni's going to get her shots later in the game." Athletes in Action, playing its 12th games in 14 days, also got 10 points from Crystal Carpenter and three from former Lady Razorback Christy Flowers. "I think we caught them on their tired day," Blair said. "That's every day," Flowers answered. Regardless, the game was the most lopsided loss suffered by Athletes in Action in five games against SEC schools, and the lowest point total in 12 games overall. Anderson gave Arkansas a 2-0 lead with a 17-footer 41 seconds into the game and Athletes in Action never got closer. The last time Athletes in Action got within two was when Caritas Henry's three-point play made it 18-16 with 7:15 left in the first half. Arkansas led 24-21 before closing the first half with a 12-6 run for a 36-27 halftime lead. Bragg and Dana Cherry scored four points each during the spurt. "Cherry and Bragg opened the game up for us," Blair said. The Lady Razorbacks pushed their lead to 47-32 on an India Lewis three-pointer with 13:39 to play and Athletes in Action didn't get closer than 10 the rest of the game. Junior point guard Amy Wright had seven assists and five steals in 20 minutes off the bench. "I think the thing she's improved the most with is just taking control and being more of a leader and showing poise on the floor," Flowers said of Wright. "Being here [two years] and having done it, she doesn't get rattled. She just stays calm, and I think she knows her teammates a lot better now. You can tell she's played with them and knows what they're going to do."
Halftime -- Arkansas 36, Athletes In Action 27 Officials -- Broderick, Day, Polk Attendance -- 1,828.
This article was published on November 15, 2000RETURN to main page
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