by By Troy Littledeer, Kituwah Press
(Fayetteville, Arkansas) – Cherokee Nation citizen Taleyah Jones delivered a standout performance on Native American Heritage Night, scoring a game-high 19 points to lead the Arkansas Razorbacks to a 96-57 victory over Little Rock on Thursday at Bud Walton Arena.
Jones was the catalyst for an efficient Arkansas offense, shooting 8-for-11 from the field and 3-for-4 from three-point range. She added seven rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes, setting the tone on a night celebrating Indigenous heritage.
While Jones paced the starters, Arkansas (5-1) overwhelmed the Trojans (1-3) with a steady inside-out attack anchored by Bonnie Deas and ignited by Jenna Lawrence off the bench.
Deas controlled the paint, recording a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Her work on the glass helped Arkansas secure a 58-27 rebounding advantage.
Lawrence provided the spark for the second unit. Coming off the bench, she scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including three three-pointers. Her production highlighted a dominant bench effort, as Arkansas’ reserves outscored Little Rock’s 49-13.
Choctaw Nation citizen Emily Robinson joined Jones in the starting lineup, representing the second of two tribal nations on the floor for Arkansas. Robinson orchestrated the offense, finishing with a team-high four assists along with seven points and two steals.
Arkansas used its size and depth to wear down Little Rock, outscoring the Trojans 50-26 in the paint and 20-11 on second-chance points.
Jordan Holman led Little Rock with 14 points, and Brenna Burk added 12 on four made three-pointers.
(Republished with permission from author for Kituwah Press)
