Razorbacks host Lamar

FAYETTEVILLE – Tom Collen and the University of Arkansas women’s basketball team is set to begin the postseason hosting Lamar in the WNIT Tournament Thursday at 7 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena.

The Razorbacks (19-11) are making the program’s fifth WNIT appearance while Lamar (25-7) is making their second consecutive appearance in the postseason.

"We are excited to be playing," Collen said. "Our goal at the start of the season was to reach the postseason. We still have a relatively young team and any opportunity to play against a quality opponent such as Lamar is good."

Lamar comes to Bud Walton with a 25-7 record that includes a win over Texas-Arlington (62-56) and a loss to Tennessee (99-55). Lamar had a season-best eight game winning streak early in the year and finished on a 5-1 run prior to the WNIT Tournament. The Cardinals’ Jenna Plumley leads the team with 15.7 ppg and ranks third in the nation in steals per game with a 3.5 average. She is 12th in the country in free throw percentage and in three point field goals per game with a 2.9 average. As a team, Lamar ranks 27th in the nation in scoring offense (74.1 ppg) and 24th in win-loss percentage (78.1) this year. They rank 34th in the nation in steals per game (10.8)

"They are a very up-tempo team and our defense will be a real focal point for us," Collen said. "It’s been a while since we have faced a team like this who scores 74 points per game. We like to play these types of teams and get out and get up and down the court with a high possession game. I’m looking forward to it and I know the team is."

Tickets for the game are on sale now. Reserved seats are $11 for the game. General admission adult tickets are $7 and general admission youth tickets are $6. The first 250 UA students to the North ticket window will be admitted for free, and general admission student tickets will be on sale for just $1. Tickets can be purchased on-line at ArkansasRazorbacks.com or by calling 800-982-4647.

The winner of the Arkansas/Lamar match up meets the winner of the Missouri State/Rice game. The second round game date, time and opponent will be determined after play on Thursday.

"This is a postseason tournament and we are here to play the best basketball we can," Collen said. "We welcome the pressure of the one-and-done atmosphere that a tournament provides and hope to use this as a springboard into next season."

Download: 2011 WNIT Bracket.pdf