Jones gets career boards; Razorbacks fall to LSU

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Senior Whitney Jones pounded the boards for a career-high 15 rebounds and finished a basket shy of her third double double of the season as the Arkansas Razorbacks turned in a 62-42 loss to LSU.

The Razorbacks, 11-5, led the Lady Tigers, 7-5, during the first half, and trailed by only a point at halftime, 25-24.

But the second half was the difference maker as the Razorbacks who shot a dismal 24 percent from the field on the night, another season low, while committing 14 turnovers. Shanita Arnold led the Razorbacks in scoring, posting up 10 points, eight coming in the first half.

“Obviously, I’m disappointed in the effort, and that comes back to me,” UA head coach Tom Collen said. “We did a good job defensively in the first half, and we rebounded well early. In the second half, that comes back to me as a coach. It’s up to me to get them ready for this weekend.”

Arkansas scored a season-low 42 points along with the season worst field goal percentage.

“We’re very surprised with the way this game turned out,” Jones said. “Their defense was good, but we didn’t stay focused. It was our fault.”

The Razorbacks were cold from the start, not scoring until an Arnold trey from the top of the key with 16:16 on the clock in the first half. The Tigers didn’t fare much better to start, making their first basket at the 17:22 mark on a layup by Katherine Graham.

With the score 16-8 in favor of the home team, both squads hit a scoring drought, going without a field goal for two minutes and 25 seconds until LSU’s Allison Hightower hit a jumper with 10:58 left in the first half.

“I’m proud of this team,” LSU head coach Van Chancellor said. “Down 16-8, we made a change in our defense and it worked. We’re so young, and to go on the road and get a win is huge.”

The Razorbacks’ struggles from the field continued and the team went 6:02 without a field goal. During the Razorbacks’ scoreless period, LSU went on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 16 before sophomore Brittney Richardson sunk a three-pointer with 6:29 remaining before halftime.

However, Richardson’s effort from beyond the arc was not the offensive catalyst the team was looking for as the Razorbacks hit another offensive wall, this time being held without a field goal for the next five minutes, 52 seconds. Ricketts finally got in a shot to fall with 37 seconds left to play, pulling the Razorbacks within one of the Tigers, 25-24. Neither team was able to get off another shot and LSU took its one point lead into the half.

The Razorbacks will travel to Lexington, Ky., on Sunday to face off with the Kentucky Wildcats at 1 p.m. For updated results and complete coverage of Arkansas women’s basketball, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.