Balanced Effort Leads To Win

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas women’s basketball team used five players in double figures and a 20-0 fourth quarter run to defeat Abilene Christian University, 79-65, in Bud Walton Arena on Wednesday night.

Juniors Malica Monk and Raven Northcross-Baker had 15 points each followed by 13 points from sophomore Jailyn Mason, 12 points from sophomore Kiara Williams and 11 points from graduate student Devin Cosper in the win.

Mason added a season-best eight assists and had seven rebounds for Arkansas. Williams also grabbed eight boards.

Arkansas (5-2) was steady in the first quarter going on a 7-0 scoring run and holding the Wildcats (3-2) without a basket for more than four minutes. The Razorbacks forced back-to-back shot clock violations and took advantage of five ACU turnovers to lead 11-3 at the first media timeout.

The quarter proved to be one of runs with ACU going on a 9-0 spurt to get back into the game. Arkansas answered with a 7-0 run with time evaporating in the quarter, giving the Razorbacks a 20-14 advantage at the end of the first frame.

The pace of the second quarter changed with both teams more content to run a half-court offence. Williams scored her 10th point on a layup early in the frame. It is her first game to score in double figures in the first half and her third double-digit scoring game of the season. Arkansas suffered through another cold spell but took a 34-24 lead into the locker room at the half.

The third quarter opened with a 7-0 ACU run that prompted head coach Mike Neighbors to burn a timeout with just under two minutes gone in the stanza. Arkansas got a 3-pointer from Northcross-Baker that sparked a 12-0 run allowing the Razorbacks to stretch the lead back to double figures by the media timeout.

Arkansas was up 54-47 heading into the fourth quarter and ACU hit the first shot of the frame. That make was followed by a 20-0 run with baskets from Taylah Thomas, Keiryn Swenson, Northcross-Baker, Cosper, Monk, and Williams as Arkansas built the lead to as much as 24 points in the final 10 minutes.

Notes
• Kiara Williams reached double digits early in the second quarter. It is the first time she has scored in double figures in the first half and it is her third double-figure scoring game of the year.
• Malica Monk reached double figures at the mid-point of the third quarter, scoring in double figures for the seventh consecutive game.
• Junior Raven Northcross-Baker reached double figures late in the third quarter. It is her first double-figure scoring game as a Razorback.
• Devin Cosper played only 21 minutes and scoring 11 points. It is her seventh consecutive game in double figures. She had eight points in the fourth quarter.
• Jailyn Mason had her second game in double figure scoring with 13 points. Mason also had eight assists and seven rebounds in the win.
• Arkansas had six scoring runs of six or more points in the game including a season-best 20-0 run in the fourth quarter.
• Arkansas made 10 3-pointers. It is the third game in which the Razorbacks have had 10 or more baskets from distance.
• The Razorbacks were 10-for-25 from distance shooting a season-best 40% from 3-point range.
• Arkansas made a season-high 19 free throws.
• The Razorbacks forced a season-best 20 opponent turnovers – the seventh consecutive game that Arkansas has forced double-figure turnovers.

Up Next
Arkansas travels to Kansas on Sunday as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge. The Razorbacks face the Jayhawks at 2 p.m. Arkansas returns home hosting three games in a row welcoming Charlotte on Dec. 7, Tulsa on Dec. 10, and UT-Arlington on Dec. 17.

More Information
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