Razorbacks Host Hatters To Close Out Home Stand

November 18, 2016

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas women’s basketball team closes out its four-game season-opening home stand against Stetson on Monday at 7 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena.

Arkansas is off to its second 3-0 start in three season under head coach Jimmy Dykes. The Razorbacks are coming off a win over defending WNIT Champion South Dakota, snapping the Coyotes’ eight-game winning streak, the second-longest in the nation.

Five Razorbacks scored in double figures in the 70-67 win against South Dakota, led by senior Jessica Jackson with 14 points and seven rebounds. Senior Alecia Cooley and sophomore Malica Monk added 12 points each, while sophomore Briunna Freeman and freshman Jailyn Mason had 10 points each. Freeman and Monk also set career highs with five steals and four steals, respectively, in the contest.

Stetson (3-0) has wins over Webber International, Valparaiso and Bethune-Cookman, all at home, and will host Eastern Illinois on Saturday, before traveling to Fayetteville. The Hatters have advanced to postseason play in each of the last six season, including NCAA Tournament appearances in 2011 and 2013.

The Opponent
Arkansas will face Stetson for just the second time in school history, winning the only previous meeting in Fayetteville during the 2008-09 season. Stetson is the second of four nonconference opponents, and 14 opponents overall, that played in the postseason this past season.

The Hatters advanced to the second round of the Women’s Basketball Invitational last year, their sixth straight postseason appearance that also included NCAA Tournament appearances in 2011 and 2013. After a 3-0 start, Stetson is seeking its fourth 4-0 start in school history and for the first time since the 2014-15 season. The team has never been 5-0 to start the season.

Picked to finish third in the Atlantic Sun preseason coaches’ poll, Stetson boasts the Atlantic Sun Preseason Player of the Year in Britanti Saunder, who led the league in scoring this past season, averaging 17.8 points per game. Through three games this year, she is averaging 14.7 points per game. Sarah Sagerer, the reigning Atlantic Sun Player of the Week, is averaging 10.3 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game and has already blocked 13 shots this season.

Notable
• Arkansas is 3-0 for the second time in three seasons under head coach and for the first time since the 2014-15 season, when the Razorbacks advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.
• Arkansas is seeking its second 4-0 start in the three seasons under head coach Jimmy Dykes. The Razorbacks won the first six games to start the 2014-15 season.
• Arkansas is 22-10 in home games, including 14-5 in nonconference home games, under head coach Jimmy Dykes.
• Arkansas has used the same starting five for each of the first three games: Malica Monk, Jailyn Mason, Jessica Jackson, Bailey Zimmerman and Alecia Cooley.
• Jessica Jackson and Alecia Cooley have scored in double figures in each of the first three games this season.
• Arkansas leads the SEC and ranks 11th nationally in turnover margin (+11.67 turnovers/game) and also ranks second in the SEC and fourth nationally in turnovers, committing just 10.0 turnovers per game.
• Arkansas has led for 109:42 of 120:00 minutes played this season. Arkansas has been tied for just 3:17 and has trailed for just 7:01 this season.

Looking Ahead
Arkansas travels to Reno, Nevada, for two games in the Nugget Classic against Memphis and Nevada or Navy. The Razorbacks will also play at Tulsa on Wednesday, Nov. 30, in a game televised on Cox Sports, before returning home to Bud Walton Arena for an SEC/Big 12 Challenge matchup with Texas Tech on Saturday, Dec. 3.

Upcoming Promotions
Fans can take advantage of the Pepsi Family 4-Pack, which includes four tickets, four hot dogs and four drinks for $34, and $1 hot dog night for Monday’s game against Stetson. Tickets are available for $5 for adults and $3 for youth 17 and under.

The game will also feature a canned food drive that will benefit the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and the University of Arkansas Full Circle Food Pantry. Fans that bring four or more canned goods will receive complimentary admission to the game. Click here for more details.

To order tickets for the 2016-17 season, click here or call the Razorback Ticket Center at 800-982-HOGS (4647) or 479-575-5151. Fans can email the Razorback Ticket Center at raztk@uark.edu.

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