Arkansas Hosts Kentucky In Play4Kay Contest

February 15, 2017

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After a two-game road swing, the University of Arkansas women’s basketball team returns home to face Kentucky in the team’s annual Play4Kay game on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena.

Arkansas (13-12, 2-10 SEC) continues to be led by senior Jessica Jackson. She leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.5 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game. She finished with 12 points against Missouri this past Sunday, her 19th game in double figures this season. She also ranks 14th in the SEC in scoring.

Bailey Zimmerman led the Razorbacks with a career-high 14 points against Missouri. Jailyn Mason and Malica Monk added 10 points each, and Arkansas committed a season-low five turnovers.

Kentucky (17-8, 8-4 SEC) is in fourth place in the SEC standings and enters Thursday on a two-game winning streak with a home win over Vanderbilt and a road win at Georgia. The Wildcats have four players averaging in double figures, led by Makayla Epps, who averages 17.2 points per game, and Evelyn Akhator, who averages a double-double.

The Opponent
Arkansas hosts Kentucky for the first time since the 2014-15 season. Kentucky is 20-13 all-time against Arkansas, winning the last six meetings, including a 77-63 win in Lexington last season. Arkansas holds a 9-5 advantage in games played in Fayetteville.

Kentucky ranks sixth in the SEC in scoring offense (70.2 points per game) and fourth in the SEC in scoring margin, outscoring opponents by 9.4 points per game. Kentucky is 4-5 in road games and 4-2 in SEC road games

Makayla Epps leads the team and ranks fourth in the SEC in scoring (17.2 points per game). Evelyn Akhator ranks 13th in the scoring and third in the SEC in rebounding, averaging 14.8 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per game. They are joined in double figures by Taylor Murray (12.3 points per game) and Maci Morris (11.7 points per game).

Notable
• Arkansas ranks fourth in the SEC in scoring defense (59.1 points per game) and sixth in the SEC in field-goal percentage defense (38.1 percent).
• Malica Monk ranks fifth in the SEC in steals (2.1 per game). She had a career-high six steals against Florida and came up with three more steals against Missouri.
• Arkansas has shot 45 percent or better in eight games this season. Arkansas shot 45 percent or better twice all of last season (30 games) and six times all of 2014-15 (32 games). Arkansas is now 16-0 when shooting 45 percent or better under head coach Jimmy Dykes.
• Arkansas has held opponents under 30 percent shooting in six games this season: Sam Houston State (26.9), Louisiana-Monroe (22.1), Tulsa (29.7), Northwestern State (25.0), Houston Baptist (24.1) and LSU (28.8).
• Arkansas has had seven different players score in double figures during the first half of games this season: Jessica Jackson (six times), Alecia Cooley (two times) Malica Monk (two times), Devin Cosper, Jailyn Mason, Keiryn Swenson and Aaliyah Wilson.

Looking Ahead
Arkansas travels to Tennessee on Feb. 19 and Vanderbilt on Feb. 23 for its final two regular-season road games, before returning home for Senior Day against Auburn on Feb. 26. The SEC Tournament begins Wednesday, March 1 in Greenville, South Carolina.

For tickets call the Razorback Ticket Center at 800-982-HOGS (4647) or 479-575-5151. For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on Twitter.