Arkansas Travels To Tennessee
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas women’s basketball team embarks on its final road swing of the regular season, beginning with Tennessee on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. in Thompson-Boling Arena.
Arkansas (13-13, 2-11 SEC) is coming off a 69-62 loss to Kentucky on Thursday night in Bud Walton Arena. The Razorbacks nearly erased two double-digit deficits in the second half but they were unable to complete the comeback.
Jessica Jackson led all scorers with 24 points for her team-leading 20th double-digit scoring game and sixth 20-point game this season. She was 10-of-20 from the floor, and as a team, Arkansas was 27-of-60 for its ninth game with 45 percent or better shooting this season. Arkansas outrebounded Kentucky, 35-32, and had seven steals in the game.
Jackson leads the team in scoring and rebounding and also ranks 14th in the SEC in scoring, averaging 14.9 points per game. She collects 6.2 rebounds per game. Malica Monk is second on the team in scoring, averaging 9.1 points per game, and also leads the team and ranks fifth in the SEC in steals with 2.1 steals per game.
Tennessee (16-10, 7-6 SEC) is tied with Missouri for fifth place in the SEC standings. The Lady Vols enter Sunday on a two-game losing streak, including a 65-57 loss at Alabama on Thursday night. Their leading scorer, Diamond DeShields, went down with an injury in the middle of the first period and was out for the remainder of the game.
DeShields leads three Lady Vols in double figures and also ranks second in the SEC with 17.3 points per game. Mercedes Russell averages 16.7 points per game and 9.4 rebounds per game, and Jaime Nared chips in with 15.1 points per game.
The Opponent
Arkansas faces Tennessee for the first time this season, after meeting three times during the 2015-16 season. Arkansas won the first meeting in Fayetteville (64-59), lost the second meeting in Knoxville (75-57) and lost the third meeting in Jacksonville in the second round of the SEC Tournament (68-51).
Tennessee ranks third in the SEC in scoring offense (75.2 points per game) and also ranks in the top five of field-goal percentage (43.9 percent) and 3-point field-goal percentage (34.5 percent). Tennessee is 11-3 in home games, including 4-2 in SEC home games. The Lady Vols have three wins over top-10 teams, including a road win at No. 4 South Carolina.
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).
• Jessica Jackson scored a game-high 24 points, her team-leading 20th double-digit scoring game and sixth 20-point game this season.
• Malica Monk ranks fifth in the SEC in steals (2.1 per game). She had a career-high six steals against Florida and matched that career high with six more steals against Kentucky.
• Arkansas has shot 45 percent or better in nine 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 16-1 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 (seven times), Alecia Cooley (two times) Malica Monk (two times), Devin Cosper, Jailyn Mason, Keiryn Swenson and Aaliyah Wilson.
Looking Ahead
Arkansas plays its final regular-season road game at Vanderbilt on Feb. 23 and hosts Auburn for Senior Day on Feb. 26. The SEC Tournament begins 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.
