Cold Night In Bud Walton Arena

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Junior Jessica Jackson scored a season-best 29 points but cold shooting by the University of Arkansas women’s basketball team led to a 74-67 loss to Tulsa Monday.

Arkansas put together a mad effort in the final period scoring 32 points behind Jackson’s fourth consecutive double-digit effort but the team shot just 37.3% from the floor, hit just four three-pointers and was 13-for-21 from the line.

Jackson added seven rebounds and had four blocks hitting 10 field goals and going 6-for-7 from the line. Senior Melissa Wolff added nine rebounds and junior Alecia Cooley had seven for the Razorbacks.

Arkansas started the first period cold and trailed Tulsa, 11-14, after the first 10 minutes of play. The shooting struggles continued to start the second period with the Razorbacks opening 0-6 finally scoring their first points at the under-five mark.

The Razorbacks shot a season-low 29.6% from the floor in the first half as the offense struggled to find any consistency. Jackson hit her first basket in the second period and finished the half with seven points but Arkansas trailed the Golden Hurricane by nine, 22-31, after the first 20 minutes.

Tulsa opened the third period on a 4-0 run while the Razorbacks started 0-3 prompting an Arkansas timeout with 7:53 to go in the quarter. Arkansas was just 4-for-14 in the period and trailed Tulsa by 15 heading into the final 10 minutes.

Arkansas forced a Tulsa turnover and Malica Monk passed the length of the floor to Briunna Freeman for the fast break layup as Arkansas cut the lead to 10 with just over five minutes to play. But the Golden Hurricane came back with a three-pointer as the shot clock was running out to once again extend the lead.

Jackson answered with a tough two on an in-bounds play and then Arkansas stole the ball, forcing the fourth consecutive turnover by Tulsa. Devin Cosper drove the lane and was fouled and made one free throw cutting the lead to 10. Tulsa stepped back and hit a three as the Razorbacks allowed a 4-for-4 run to its opponent.

But the Razorbacks wouldn’t quit. Jackson hit back-to-back three-pointers as Arkansas put together a 9-0 run moving the gap under 10, at nine points, for the first time in the half. The Razorbacks trailed 56-65 with 1:40 to play.

Arkansas started fouling Tulsa in an effort to get the ball back but the Golden Hurricane made at least one of the bonus shots on each trip to the line not allowing the Razorbacks to complete the comeback.

From Jimmy Dykes
Well we are obviously very disappointed in the loss. We knew Tulsa coming in at 0-3 felt like they should be 3-0 and we thought so too after watching their film. They are a good team and they deserved to win tonight. We scored 32 points in the last 10 minutes. I was really proud of our effort and energy in the last quarter. We at least put some game pressure on them at the end. Now we have to put it behind us and get ready for Puerto Rico

Game Notes
• It is the second consecutive game that Arkansas was outscored in the first period (SDSU)
• Tulsa won the tip and scored first
• Arkansas started the second period 0-6 before Jessica Jackson scored her first basket of the game with under five minutes remaining in the frame
• Junior transfer Alecia Cooley had seven rebounds in the first half
• Junior Jessica Jackson had seven points in the first half
• Jackson finished with 29 points, the 15th time she has had 20+ points and the second time this season
• Jackson was in double figures for the fourth time in as many games this year
• Arkansas’ 29.6% from the field in the first half was the lowest shooting percentage of the season
• The loss is just the third in program history to Tulsa (19-3) and the first since the 2005 season
• The Arkansas defense forced two shot clock violations by Tulsa and one five second call on an in bound play

Up Next
Arkansas travels to San Juan Puerto Rico facing Louisiana-Lafayette and Oregon State Nov. 27 and 28, respectively. Both games tip at 1:30 p.m. central. Check SportToursLive.net for live coverage.

For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on Twitter.