Photo by: Krishnan Collins | Sports Editor: Payton Tennison led the Red Wolves in scoring against CBC with 26 points.

The Arkansas State women’s basketball team opened the Matt Daniel coaching era with a 88-63 win over the Central Baptist Mustangs Wednesday.

Payton Tennison led the Red Wolves with 26 points on the night while Jada Ford, Peyton Martin and Trinitee Jackson also all contributed with double digit points. Ford accounted for 13 while Jackson and Martin scored 11 each.

Tennison started the game on fire scoring 18 points in the first quarter alone.

“It felt good,” Tennison said. “The whole atmosphere just start to finish was different than what I’ve experienced in the past three years. It’s different for the better.”

The senior guard put in a lot of work in the offseason on her game. It showed against the Mustangs.

“He’s (coach) made me get in the gym a lot this preseason,” Tennison said. “I feel like that’s set me up to start games like this. I feel like when I can knock down those shots, eventually they’re going to have to come out and guard me which will give my other teammates a chance to score too.”

Jackson had a double-double as she accounted for 17 rebounds with her 11 points and Morgan Wallace registered 15 rebounds. Wallace did not have a good night scoring wise, but her contributions on the ball helped the team.

“(Jackson) is maturing so much,” Daniel said. “They all are. Mo has two points and she has 15 rebounds. We don’t run a program of superstars, we run a program where everybody can get rich. So it’s going to be a different person every night.”

Game Summary

Fourth Quarter

Tennison made her eighth 3-point basket of the game in the fourth quarter to put the Red Wolves ahead 77-48.

Moments later, Jireh Washington made a fancy move to the basket to finish a layup increasing A-State’s advantage to 81-54. The move forced CBC into a timeout.

The Red Wolves finished out the quarter to end the game 88-63.

Third Quarter

Tennison started the second half where she left off from the first. The senior stole the ball on an in-bounds play and assisted Martin for an easy layup.

The Red Wolves really distanced themselves from the Mustangs in the third quarter.

After a nice passing move, Shameka Tubbs finished the play and earned an and-one opportunity. Tubbs completed the 3-point play to put A-State up 30 points, 61-31 with just under six minutes left to play in the quarter.

Jackson got the First National Bank Arena on its feet when the sophomore snagged a rebound and got fouled as she scored a layup. Despite the great effort, she missed the ensuing free throw.

A-State took a 74-44 lead into the fourth quarter.

Second Quarter

A-State went into the break leading 46-27 as the Red Wolves shot 44% from the field and held CBC to a poor 26%.

Tennison led the Red Wolves with 23 points at the half while Ford and Jackson both chipped in with seven points each.

Jackson made a nice move later in the quarter to earn an and-one free throw after scoring her layup. The sophomore completed the 3-point play to put the Red Wolves ahead 35-19.

Tennison made her first seven shots of the game and they were all 3-point baskets.

First Quarter 

Tennison absolutely lit it up from behind the arc in the first quarter. A-State’s first 12 points of the quarter were Tennison 3-point baskets.

In total, the senior made six 3-pointers in the first quarter and shot 100% from the field for 18 points.

Late in the quarter, A-State went on an 8-0 run that forced CBC into a timeout. The first period ended 25-15 in A-State’s favor.

Looking Ahead

A-State travels to Tulsa Saturday. Tip off is set for 2 p.m.

Categories: Sports