Arkansas Falls To Tennessee
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of Arkansas sophomore Devin Cosper posted a career-best 20 points but cold shooting by the Razorbacks saw them eliminated from the 2016 Southeastern Conference Tournament with a 68-51 loss against Tennessee in the second round Thursday.
Arkansas falls to 12-18 overall and finished the year 7-9 in the SEC. Tennessee moves on to face Texas A&M after improving to 18-12 overall.
While Cosper shot well going 8-for-19 with one three-pointer and a 3-for-5 night from the line, Arkansas shot just 31.3 percent hitting 20-of-64 shots in the game.
Tennessee’s first-half three-point shooting put the Razorbacks in a bind from the opening tip. Junior Jessica Jackson scored all seven of Arkansas’ first-period points and Cosper added seven in the second frame as the Razorbacks made a run at Tennessee in the half.
The offense sputtered late in the stanza with the Razorbacks finishing just 1-for-6 as they trailed UT, 37-21, at the break. The scoring continued to be at a premium for the Razorbacks in the third frame as they started 1-for-6 and couldn’t make up much ground against the large Lady Vols lead.
The fourth period saw Arkansas open 1-for-11 as the physical nature of the game ratcheted up a notch. Jackson got back in the scoring column in the fourth period and finished the game with 12 points and seven rebounds. Senior Melissa Wolff, playing in her final SEC Tournament game, paced Arkansas with 12 rebounds.
With the loss, Arkansas ends the regular season with a 12-18 overall record. The Razorbacks await word of a possible WNIT bid. Follow us on Twitter @RazorbackWBB for the latest information.
NOTES
• Arkansas starters: Jessica Jackson, Kelsey Brooks, Devin Cosper, Melissa Wolff, Alecia Cooley
• Arkansas is 3-28 all-time against Tennessee
o The Razorbacks and Tennessee split a pair of meetings during the regular season
• Devin Cosper was the first Razorback in double figures
o She finished with career-best 20 points
o It is the 15th game she has posted double figures
• Jessica Jackson finished with 12 points
o It is her 26th game of the season with double figure scoring and the 77th of her career
• Senior Melissa Wolff grabbed 12 rebounds
o It is her fifth game of the season and 16th of her career with double digit boards
ARKANSAS AND THE SEC TOURNAMENT
• Prior to today’s game, Arkansas had just four players who have played at the SEC Tournament (Jackson, Wolff, Brooks and West)
• Arkansas’ best SEC Tournament finish was om 2001 and 2002 when the Razorbacks advanced to the semi-finals
o Arkansas was a seventh-seed both of those years
• This is the fifth time the Razorbacks have been a No. 10 seed (2016, 2007, 2000, 1996, 1993)
• Arkansas has been eliminated in the first game every time they have been a 10th seed
• The Razorbacks most common opponent in the SEC Tournament has been Ole Miss with the teams meeting seven times
• This is the first time Arkansas has faced Tennessee in the SEC Tournament
o The only other teams Arkansas has not met in the Tournament are Missouri and Texas A&M
• Kelsey Brooks is the only current player who holds a team record in the SEC Tournament – she is tied with eight other former players playing 40 minutes in a tournament game (vs. No. 3/3 South Carolina, 3-6-15)
• Current Razorback assistant coach Christy Smith is a part of three Arkansas SEC Tournament records including going 10-for-10 from the free throw line versus Alabama in 1995
