Razorback Roundup -- Nov. 10

RAZORBACK ROUNDUPNov. 10, 2008MEN’S BASKETBALL Arkansas won its two exhibition games last week, beating Campbellsville, 103-58, and Dillard, 108-80. In the two exhibitions, pre-season All-SEC forward Michael Washington averaged 20.5 points and 8.5 rebounds while freshman guard Rotnei Clarke averaged 18.5 points and made 9-of-15 three-pointers (.600). Former Razorback center Steven Hill, the 2007 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, signed last week with the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. Arkansas opens the season on Friday with a 7:05 p.m. home game against Southeastern Louisiana.WOMEN’S BASKETBALL The Razorbacks open the 2008-09 season on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m. by hosting Louisiana-Monroe. Tom Collen’s first coach’s luncheon of the year is the next Monday, Nov. 17, at 11:30 at the Clarion Inn in Fayetteville. Whitney Jones (20 pts/20 minutes) and Ashley McCray (15pts/15 minutes) gave Arkansas point-a-minute production for almost the entire game at the low post position in the exhibition win over Rogers State.MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY The Razorbacks finished third at the SEC Championships last Monday behind an eighth-place finish by senior Scott MacPherson. MacPherson and Andy McClary earned All-SEC honors while Rick Elliott and Eric Fernandez were named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. Next up for No. 24 Arkansas is the NCAA South Central Regional Championships in Waco, Texas, on Nov. 15.WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Fueled by an individual race win by sophomore Catherine White, Arkansas won its 13th overall and third-straight SEC championship. White, Denise Bargiachi and Christine Kalmer earned All-SEC honors while Samantha Learch was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. Next up for No. 12 Arkansas is the NCAA South Central Regional Championships in Waco, Texas, on Nov. 15.FOOTBALL (4-6, 1-5) Arkansas tailback Michael Smith became the ninth Razorback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season when he passed the mark in the Razorbacks’ road game at South Carolina. Smith’s 1,000-yard campaign is the 15th 1,000-yard season in school history. Quarterback Casey Dick set a school record for completions in a season with his 181st completion early in the third quarter against the Gamecocks. Arkansas lost 34-21 to South Carolina. The Razorbacks have an open date this weekend before returning to action on Nov. 22 at Mississippi State.MEN’S GOLF No. 6 Arkansas made its final appearance of the fall last week at the CordeValle Collegiate in San Martin, Calif. The Razorbacks finished sixth of 12 teams after spending the first rounds tied at third and then fourth. Fourth-ranked Southern California won the three-day event with an even par score of 1080. Also atop the leader board were 11th-ranked Stanford (+26), UCLA (+27), Washington (+30), Charlotte (+34) and Arkansas (+40). Andrew Landry ended with a tie for 18th (+6), Ethan Tracy tied for 21st (+7), Allen McFerran tied for 25th (+8), Jamie Marshall was 32nd (+10), David Lingmerth tied at 58th (+18) and Christoffer Arvidsson tied at 71st (+25). UA closed the fall with three strong performances – two team wins, two individual wins and a No. 6 ranking. The Hogs will be back on the course for their first appearance of the spring Feb. 22 at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate.WOMEN’S GOLF Arkansas returns to action at the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic in Baton Rouge, La., March 13-15.SOCCER (11-8, 4-7) With their season completed, the Razorbacks had two players recognized with post-season honors from the Southeastern Conference. Senior forward Lindsay Patterson racked up her second all-conference award as she was named an All-SEC second-team performer. She was also recognized as a junior. This is the 19th All-SEC award, distributed among 13 student-athletes, in program history. Jackie Booker was commended for her work away from the field as a member of the SEC Community Service Team. She is one of 11 student-athletes from around the conference awarded for their dedication and service to their respective communities.SOFTBALL The Razorback softball team was honored by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) as a Top 25 Division I All-Academic team for the 2007-08 academic year. Arkansas had ten student-athletes—Jessica Bachkora, Becca Carden, Miranda Dixon, Hillary Freeman, Katy Henry, Amie Hubbard, Dayna Huckabee, Layne McGuirt, Jocelyne Moncrief and Sandra Smith—named to the NFCA Scholar-Athlete list. Head coach Jamie Pinkerton was also selected to the NFCA Division I All-American and Coaching Staff of the Year committee. He was elected in a national vote and will represent the South Region on the nine-person committee.SWIMMING (6-1, 2-1) The No. 22 Razorbacks picked up four wins on Saturday at the Mean Green Duals hosted by the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, including a 152-148 upset of No. 14 SMU. Stephanie Carr (500 free, 1000 free), Katie Kastes (200 fly, 200 IM) and Leah Pierce (100 breast, 200 breast) each won two events, and freshman Katie Whitbeck (200 free) picked up her third second-place finish on the year. In diving, Madison Palmer won the one-meter springboard competition with a score of 296.80, a season high for the team. Arkansas’ other victories Saturday included a 210.5-89.5 win over Colorado State, a 216-84 finish over New Mexico State and a 237-63 victory over North Texas. Next, the Razorbacks travel to Minneapolis, Minn., Nov. 14-16 for the Minnesota U.S. Grand Prix.MEN’S TENNIS Arkansas’ fall season concluded Friday at the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships as No.41 Blake Strode fell to Michael Shabaz of Virginia, 6-4, 6-4, in the consolation singles quarterfinals. Strode and fellow Hog Matt Hogan each lost in round one of the main draw on Thursday, sending the Razorbacks to the consolation draw. Hogan lost his round of 16 consolation singles match to Dominic Inglot of Virginia, but Strode got the victory over Denver’s Martin Zimmerman to set up his quarterfinal match with Shabaz. The Razorbacks will be back on the court Jan.15 at the SEC Indoor Invitational in Lexington, Ky.WOMEN’S TENNIS Senior Aurelija Miseviciute proved her dominance as the No. 1-ranked women’s tennis player in a victory of No. 2 Ana Mijacika of Clemson to claim the ITA National Indoor Singles Championship. This marks the second consecutive year Miseviciute has defeated Mijacika to claim the national title. The win was Miseviciute’s 104th in singles, good for fourth all-time in Razorback history and only four wins away from the top spot. In doubles, unranked Nanar Airapetian and Anouk Tigu defeated two top 11 duos at the ITA Indoor Championships, pushing their winning-streak to seven before losing in the semifinals of the event. The event marked the end of the fall season for the women’s tennis team. VOLLEYBALL (6-19, 3-12) Arkansas battled well but lost in three to Tennessee Friday followed by a loss to No. 19 Kentucky Sunday. Senior Christina Lawrence continues to lead the Razorbacks. The Sullivan, Mo., native is hitting .302 with 3.06 kills-per-set this year. Arkansas travels to Alabama and Mississippi State this weekend in the final road matches of the 2008 season. The Razorbacks close out the year with three in a row at home.OLYMPIC SPORT PRESS CONFERENCETuesday at 1 p.m. in Barnhill Arena interview room