Beyond the Box: Arkansas beats Alabama in Triple Overtime

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Post players Sarah Watkins and Quistelle Williams were in foul trouble for most of the first half, so sophomore Jhasmin Bowen stepped up to fill that void. She was 4-8 from the floor in the first half, and led the team with eight first half points. Bowen was also big for the Razorbacks down the stretch after Watkins fouled out and was a force underneath all game. Bowen finished with a career-high 19 points and was key in a triple overtime victory.

PLAY OF THE GAME: After absorbing two big three-pointers by Alabama's Shafontaye Myers to extend the game first into overtime and then into a second OT session, Arkansas came out in the second OT session and allowed a 7-0 run. Down 75-68, Arkansas clawed all the way back, and got the ball to freshman Dominique Wilson nearing the end of the frame. Wilson calmly knocked down the biggest shot of her young career, hitting a huge three pointer that gave the Razorbacks new life. After forcing a third overtime, Arkansas came out on fire in that period, and pulled out an eleven point victory 91-80.

TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME: Arkansas trailed most of the first half, going down multiple times by eight points. With 32 seconds left in the half, and just six seconds on the shot clock, Calli Berna inbounded from under the UA hoop, and found Erin Gatling in the corner, and she knocked down a three pointer to make the halftime deficit just three points.

Arkansas came out of the half on a 12-2 run, forcing five turnovers in the first 3:30, and scoring six of those twelve points off the turnovers. Bowen and Wilson each had four points during the quick burst, and Williams and Watkins got back into the flow with a basket apiece. Alabama would claw back into the game and force multiple overtime periods by hitting two separate three pointers with time winding down.

In regulation and overtime, Alabama's Shafontaye Myers hit big three pointers to extend the game when Arkansas was holding on to slim leads. But it was Dominique Wilson who hit the biggest shot, as her three pointer sent the game to a third overtime session, where the Razorbacks pulled away from the Crimson Tide.

UNSUNG HEROS OF THE GAME: Calli Berna had the first double-double of her career, finishing with 12 points and 11 assists. Dominique Wilson was huge down the stretch, scoring 11 points after regulation, and setting a new career high with 19 points, and hit the huge three pointer to force the final overtime session. Erin Gatling also had 13 points, and hit two big threes in overtime. Quistelle Williams had her fifth double-double of the season, scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds.

NOTE OF THE GAME: This was the first time in program history that Arkansas played a triple overtime game. Last season, on Jan. 29, 2012, the Razorbacks defeated Florida 73-72 in double overtime.