Razorback Roundup -- Nov. 17

RAZORBACK ROUNDUPNov. 17, 2008MEN’S BASKETBALL (1-0) Arkansas won its season-opener for the 14th straight year and its home-opener for the 35th consecutive season with Friday’s 91-87 overtime victory over Southeastern Louisiana. Pre-season All-SEC forward Michael Washington had career highs of 30 points and 14 rebounds. His point total is the best for a Razorback in a season-opener since All-American Sidney Moncrief had 30 against Oklahoma in 1979. The Hogs play host to California-Davis Thursday at 7:05 p.m. and play at Missouri State at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday.WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (1-0) Five Razorbacks scored in double-digits as Arkansas opened the 2008-09 season with a 77-38 win over Louisiana-Monroe. Freshman Ciera Ricketts came off the bench to lead all scorers with 14 points. Seniors Ayana Brereton (13) and Whitney Jones (12) were next in scoring, with freshman Lyndsay Harris and Charity Ford rounding out the scoring with 10 each. Arkansas’ defense dominated, holding ULM to the lowest points in the series and the worst field goal percentage (21.2%) by an opponent since December 2006. The Razorbacks play three games this week, starting on Wednesday with High Point at 7 p.m., followed by SMU on Friday at 7 p.m. and Northwestern on Sunday at 3 p.m.MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY No. 24 Arkansas ran for a second-place finish at the NCAA South Central Regional Championships held at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course in Waco, Texas. Led by senior Scott MacPherson’s third-place finish, the Razorbacks finished three runners in the top 10, five in the top 20 and all seven finishers in the top 27. Six of Arkansas’ seven runners earned all-region honors. Arkansas competes next at the NCAA Championships on Monday, Nov. 24, in Terre Haute, Ind.WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY No. 12 Arkansas took the title win at the NCAA South Central Regional Championships held at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course in Waco, Texas. Led by sophomore Catherine White’s fourth-place finish, Arkansas finished three runners in the top 10, five runners in the top 20 and all seven finishers in the top 42. Six of Arkansas’ seven runners earned all-region honors. Arkansas competes next at the NCAA Championships on Monday, Nov. 24, in Terre Haute, Ind.FOOTBALL (4-6, 1-5) Arkansas takes to the road for an SEC Western Division showdown with Mississippi State (1:30 p.m.) after enjoying an open date last weekend. The Razorbacks have won 13 of the last 14 games in the series, including nine-consecutive wins over the Bulldogs. The last time Mississippi State won a game in the series was in Starkville in 1998. Arkansas’ 2008 schedule currently ranks as the No. 4 toughest schedule in the nation. The Razorbacks’ opponents have combined to post a 61-38 (.616) record this season.MEN’S GOLF The Razorbacks were featured in the fourth and final Golf World/Nike Golf Division I Coaches’ Poll of the fall season released on Nov. 12. Receiving 335 points, Arkansas moved up five positions since the last poll, putting them in ninth place. The Hogs return from the off-season Feb. 22 at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate for their first tournament of the spring.WOMEN’S GOLF Arkansas returns to action at the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic in Baton Rouge, La., March 13-15.GYMNASTICS The 10th-ranked Razorbacks announced the signing of a pair of prep gymnasts for the 2010 roster last week. Co-head coaches Mark and René Cook welcome Kelci Lewis and Amy Borsellino for next season. Lewis joins the Razorbacks from Collinsville, Okla., where she attended Collinsville High and competed for ConocoPhillips Gymnastics. Borsellino hails from Boonton, N.J., and competed for North Stars Gymnastics, the same club as former Razorback Dana McQuillin, current Director of Gymnastics Operations Samantha Cortez and current team member freshman Jaime Pisani. The team kicks off the 2009 season Jan. 9 with the home opener against Ohio State in Barnhill Arena.SOFTBALL The softball team announced its 2009-10 signee class last Wednesday. The future Razorbacks are Courtney Breault (Roseville, Calif.), Stephanie Brewer (Broken Arrow, Okla.), Chelsea Cohen (Sparks, Nev.), Hope McLemore (Ringling, Okla.) and Amanda Summerford (Fayetteville, Ark.).SWIMMING AND DIVING (6-1, 2-1) The No.22 Razorbacks sent 20 swimmers to the non-scoring Minnesota U.S. Grand Prix last weekend to take on some of the top high school, club, collegiate and professional swimmers in the country, including 2008 Olympians Chloe Sutton and Alison Schmitt. Over the course of the three-day meet, Arkansas broke four school records, including Leah Pierce touching in at 2:10.96 to win the 200 breast. Her time is the second-fastest in the country this season. Pierce also set a record in the 100 breast with a time of 1:02.74. Katie Kastes set a new school best in the 200 IM, winning the event with a time of 1:59.86, nearly four seconds faster than Stacey Benesch’s time of 2:03.15 set in 1990. Lynette Ng broke her first Arkansas record, in the 100 back, placing second in the event with a time of 55.55. Next, the Razorbacks travel to Columbia, Mo., for the Mizzou Invite Dec.5-7.MEN’S TENNIS The Razorbacks will be back on the court Jan.15 at the SEC Indoor Invitational in Lexington, Ky.VOLLEYBALL (7-20, 4-13) Arkansas played to a weekend split, defeating Mississippi State in five sets and falling at Alabama in four. Senior Christina Lawrence had a career-best 29 kills, hit .444 and had four digs and seven blocks in the win over State. She added a 19-kill, .421, two-dig and three-block performance against Alabama. The Razorbacks conclude the season by playing host to LSU Nov. 21, Georgia Nov. 23 and Ole Miss Nov. 29.OLYMPIC SPORT PRESS CONFERENCETuesday at 1 p.m. in Barnhill Arena interview room