Back in action
Ford's return provides boost for Razorbacks
Derek Oxford
Issue date: 2/18/09 Section: Sports
It's no secret that Arkansas has won three consecutive Southeastern Conference games.
It's also no secret that the emergence of Charity Ford as a legitimate threat off the bench has been a big reason for Arkansas' resurgence as of late.
Ford's 17 points, including a shot-clock beating 3-pointer Sunday in a 70-59 defeat of Ole Miss, led the Razorbacks in scoring.
"Thank god for Charity Ford," Arkansas coach Tom Collen said. "That's the third time in a row she's stuck a big shot. She was the player of the game."
Ford missed much of the first half of SEC play as she nursed a shoulder injury that still prevents her from lifting her left arm over her head.
Then midway through the season, her leg flared up, and she played only one game after that before Collen elected to have her rest and recuperate.
Now the 5-foot-8 junior from Arlington, Tex., has returned to play, and since her return, the Razorbacks have gone 3-1.
No effort was bigger than the career-high 22 Ford posted at Georgia on Feb. 8, Arkansas' first victory in Athens over Georgia in school history and its first win in the month of February in four years.
"We all believe the Georgia game was our better game, with defense and offense," Ford said.
But past Sunday's win was just as sweet in Ford's eyes.
"I think it was a pretty good game for us [Sunday]," Ford said. "We played well with each other, and we got a lot of stuff done."
The Razorbacks are playing with confidence now, and although Ford said a team-first attitude is responsible, Ford herself is a big reason for Arkansas' resurgence.
"I think everybody is stepping up offensively and defensively," Ford said. "That's what we need, you know, down the stretch."
Ford's teammate and now five-time SEC Freshman of the Week Ceira Ricketts said she appreciates how Ford and others have stepped their games up coming from off the bench.
"People are coming off the bench and playing hard and scoring baskets for us," Ricketts said. "They're getting rebounds, playing defense and playing hard. That's what we need."
It's also no secret that the emergence of Charity Ford as a legitimate threat off the bench has been a big reason for Arkansas' resurgence as of late.
Ford's 17 points, including a shot-clock beating 3-pointer Sunday in a 70-59 defeat of Ole Miss, led the Razorbacks in scoring.
"Thank god for Charity Ford," Arkansas coach Tom Collen said. "That's the third time in a row she's stuck a big shot. She was the player of the game."
Ford missed much of the first half of SEC play as she nursed a shoulder injury that still prevents her from lifting her left arm over her head.
Then midway through the season, her leg flared up, and she played only one game after that before Collen elected to have her rest and recuperate.
Now the 5-foot-8 junior from Arlington, Tex., has returned to play, and since her return, the Razorbacks have gone 3-1.
No effort was bigger than the career-high 22 Ford posted at Georgia on Feb. 8, Arkansas' first victory in Athens over Georgia in school history and its first win in the month of February in four years.
"We all believe the Georgia game was our better game, with defense and offense," Ford said.
But past Sunday's win was just as sweet in Ford's eyes.
"I think it was a pretty good game for us [Sunday]," Ford said. "We played well with each other, and we got a lot of stuff done."
The Razorbacks are playing with confidence now, and although Ford said a team-first attitude is responsible, Ford herself is a big reason for Arkansas' resurgence.
"I think everybody is stepping up offensively and defensively," Ford said. "That's what we need, you know, down the stretch."
Ford's teammate and now five-time SEC Freshman of the Week Ceira Ricketts said she appreciates how Ford and others have stepped their games up coming from off the bench.
"People are coming off the bench and playing hard and scoring baskets for us," Ricketts said. "They're getting rebounds, playing defense and playing hard. That's what we need."
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