Ricketts has 28

FAYETTEVILLE – University of Arkansas junior C’eira Ricketts led five Razorbacks in double-figures but it wasn’t enough to stop a hot-shooting Alabama team in Southeastern Conference women’s basketball action at Bud Walton Arena.

Ricketts was just shy of her career-best with 28 points on 10-for-22 shooting but Arkansas (18-10, 6-10 SEC) dropped the game, 92-79, to Alabama (16-13, 5-11 SEC).

"You really have to credit Alabama," Arkansas head coach Tom Collen said. "That was the best game I’ve seen them play in the last four years. They shot the ball well and buried us early and that got into our confidence. No matter how hard we came back they had an answer."

If you would have told the Razorbacks that they would shoot 44.4% for the game, score 79 points and out-rebound the opponent they might have been pleased with those numbers.

What they didn’t count on, however, was a 55.7% performance from Alabama who was 9-for-13 from beyond the arc.

"It was their night," Ricketts said. "They shot well and it was hard to come back from the early hole we were in."

Ricketts’ 28 paired with 14 from Ashley Daniels, 12 from Sarah Watkins, 11 from Lyndsay Harris and 10 from Chrisstasia Walter for the game. Daniels had nine rebounds with Watkins getting five in the loss. Ricketts, a Louisville, Ky., native was one shy of her career-best and Walter got a career-high with her numbers.

"The coaches tell me to keep my motor running," Ricketts said. "I was just trying to keep us in the game."

Alabama was paced by junior Ericka Russell who scored a Crimson Tide record eight three pointers. She was 8-for-11 for 28 points.

The loss likely keeps the Razorbacks in the ninth spot in the SEC standings as teams look ahead to SEC Tournament action next week.

Download: Game 28-Alabama.pdf