Senior Day For Jackson And Cooley
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – If you are lucky, you get to have a day like today.
University of Arkansas women’s basketball seniors Jessica Jackson and Alecia Cooley are lucky – and so are the Razorback fans, teammates and coaches for having been a part of their journey.
Jackson and Cooley took different paths to this moment but both have made significant contributions to the Razorback program.
Jackson, an in-state recruit from Jacksonville, Arkansas, played for two different head coaches since her arrival on campus for the 2013-14 season. Thrust into an on-the-court leadership role from the first day, Jackson has been a special player to watch.
No doubt her numbers are impressive – 1,841 career points, 733 rebounds, almost 200 3-pointers, 99 games with double digit scoring and 16 contests with a double-double. Jackson ranks in the top-5 in nearly every statistical category at Arkansas and leaves the program as one of just three players to ever score more than 1,800 points.
Honors are hard to come by in the Southeastern Conference but Jackson has a few things she can pin up on the refrigerator. Things like selection to the All-SEC Freshman Team (2014), the All-SEC Second-Team (2014, 2015) and the All-SEC First Team (2016), becoming just the fourth Razorback in program history to earn that distinction.
Beyond the points and rebounds, Jackson has been the steady voice in the huddle, taking on more of a vocal leadership role as a senior. She has been successful in the classroom earning SEC Academic Honor Roll honors and graduates this May with a degree in recreation and sports management.
Cooley’s road to the Razorbacks began at State Fair Community College where she earned All-America honors before coming to Arkansas for the 2015-16 season. In two years, the Evanston, Illinois, native has scored nearly 400 points, grabbed almost 300 rebounds and had 37 blocks.
The 6-4 post player has tallied 16 games in double figure scoring and had four double-doubles in that span. She is a member of the Razorbacks Athletics Department Academic Honor Roll and graduates in May with a degree in communication. She plans to pursue her master’s degree.
The 2016-17 season has been a challenge for the Razorbacks (13-15, 2-13 SEC) but Jackson and Cooley have made sure the team continues to fight and get better with each practice and game.
And their job is not done yet.
The duo guides the Razorbacks in their final regular season game hosting Auburn (16-13, 6-9 SEC) on Sunday at 2 p.m. on the SEC Network. Join us at Bud Walton Arena as we thank these remarkable Razorbacks and celebrate what is ahead for them.
The Opponent
The Tigers come to Bud Walton on the heels of a 54-49 win over LSU on Thursday snapping a six-game losing streak. Auburn has three players averaging double figures led by Katie Freking with 16.0 ppg this year. Freking is also the team’s leading rebounder averaging 6.2 rpg.
Promotions
• Prior to the game, kids ages 5-12 will be able to participate in a free National Girls and Women in Sports Day clinic hosted by several Razorback athletes and coaches inside the Basketball Performance Center starting at 12 p.m. For more details and to register, click here.
• Senior Day Student Giveaway: UA students will have the opportunity to win one of five $150 Visa Gift Cards. Registration will be available inside the main entrance at the marketing table. All University of Arkansas students get in free with UA ID.
Looking Ahead
Arkansas hosts Auburn for Senior Day and its final game of the regular season on Sunday. The SEC Tournament begins March 1 in Greenville, South Carolina.
For tickets call the Razorback Ticket Center at 800-982-HOGS (4647) or 479-575-5151. For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on Twitter.
