Razorbacks Host No. 4 MSU In SEC Home Opener
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas women’s basketball team hosts No. 4 Mississippi State in its Southeastern Conference home opener on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena.
The Razorbacks (11-3, 0-1 SEC) rallied late in their SEC opener at Ole Miss on Sunday, pulling to within eight after a 14-0 run early in the fourth quarter, before eventually falling to the Rebels 73-64. Keiryn Swenson led all scorers with 19 points, while Jessica Jackson and Jailyn Mason both recorded their second straight double-double in the contest.
Jackson has scored in double figures in all 14 games this season while leading the team and ranking third in the SEC in scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game. Jackson has two double-doubles this season and 15 for her career.
As a team, Arkansas ranks fifth in the SEC and 32nd in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 56.1 points per game. The Razorbacks are also one of two SEC teams, along with Mississippi State, to rank in the top five in both offensive rebounding percentage and defensive rebounding percentage.
Fourth-ranked Mississippi State (15-0, 1-0 SEC) is the first ranked team that Arkansas will face this season. The Bulldogs are the last remaining undefeated team in the SEC and one of three remaining undefeated teams in the nation. They have a win over No. 8 Texas in nonconference play and began SEC play with a 74-48 win over LSU on Sunday.
The Opponent
Arkansas leads the all-time series with Mississippi State 18-17 but has lost the last five meetings, most recently defeating the Bulldogs in Fayetteville during the 2011-12 season. Arkansas holds a 10-5 advantage in games played in Fayetteville but has lost the last two meetings played in Bud Walton Arena.
Mississippi State head coach Vic Shaefer was an assistant coach (1997-2000) and associate head coach at Arkansas (2000-03), helping lead the Razorbacks to four NCAA Tournament appearances, an NCAA Final Four in 1997-98 and a WNIT Championship in 1998-99.
Mississippi State leads the SEC and ranks fifth in the nation in scoring margin (+28.7 points per game). MSU also ranks second in the SEC and 15th in the nation in scoring offense (81.4 points per game) and ranks second in the SEC and 12th in the nation in scoring defense (52.7 points per game).
A preseason All-SEC selection, Victoria Vivans leads Mississippi State in scoring, averaging 16.7 points per game. Morgan William (10.5 points per game) and Chinwe Okorie (10.0 points per game) also average in double figures.
Notable
• Arkansas is 8-17 in SEC home openers since joining the SEC for the 1991-92 season. That mark includes a 1-1 record under head coach Jimmy Dykes. Arkansas lost 52-50 to No. 5 Texas A&M in 2014-15 and defeated No. 10 Texas A&M in 2015-16.
• Arkansas is 27-11 in home games under head coach Jimmy Dykes. That includes an 8-1 record this season and a 10-6 record in conference home games.
• Arkansas is 6-16 against ranked teams under head coach Jimmy Dykes (3-7 in 2015-16, 3-9 in 2014-15). That includes a 4-6 record against ranked teams at home, including 3-1 in 2015-16.
• The last time Arkansas defeated a top-five team was an 82-72 win over No. 2 LSU on Jan. 19, 2003.
• Jailyn Mason scored in double figures for the third straight game and recorded a double-double for the second straight game, finishing with 10 points and 10 assists against Ole Miss. She has 24 assists and just two turnovers in 109 minutes over the last three games.
• Arkansas has won the rebounding battle in 11 of the 14 games this season, going 10-1 in those and improving to 33-8 when winning the rebounding battle under head coach Jimmy Dykes.
• Arkansas ranks second in the SEC in defensive rebounding percentage (.721) and fifth in the SEC in offensive rebounding percentage (.382). Arkansas is one of two SEC schools, along with Mississippi State, to rank in the top five of both categories.
• Arkansas is off to an 11-3 start for the first time under head coach Jimmy Dykes, the best start since a 13-1 start to the 2013-14 season.
Looking Ahead
Arkansas continues its two-game home stand against LSU on Sunday, before traveling to Texas A&M (Jan. 12) and Alabama (Jan. 15) for back-to-back road games next week.
Future home games include Vanderbilt (Jan. 19), Missouri (Jan. 23), Georgia (Feb. 2), No. 5 South Carolina (Feb. 5), No. 24 Kentucky (Feb. 16) and Auburn (Feb. 26).
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.
For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on Twitter.
