Arkansas Falls to No. 13 Mississippi State

BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Freshman Jordan Danberry played well but the University of Arkansas women’s basketball team couldn’t make it three in a row, falling to No. 13 Mississippi State, 65-55, in Bud Walton Arena Sunday.

Danberry finished with 12 points, went 4-for-4 from the line, have three rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes.  Junior Jessica Jackson also had 12 points and five rebounds but the Razorbacks shot just 30.2% for the game against the sharp-shooting Bulldogs.

Arkansas has already defeated two teams ranked No. 13 this season but couldn’t pull off the trifecta versus the Bulldogs.

The Razorbacks put up 63 shots, hitting 19 of them while Mississippi State shot 43.8% going 21-for-48 from the floor.  State out-rebounded Arkansas 38-33 and made nearly everything from the line going 21-for-24 in the game.

Arkansas went more than half of the first period scoreless allowing the visitor an 11-0 run as the Razorbacks fell behind early.  Senior Melissa Wolff scored Arkansas’ first four points and it would by 5:24 before Alecia Cooley got Arkansas back in the scoring column.  The Razorbacks trailed 16-8 after the first 10 minutes.  Arkansas’ top three scorers did not have a point in the opening period.

Arkansas stepped up the defensive pressure and forced five consecutive misses by Mississippi State.  The Bulldogs had four turnovers in four-plus minutes and Arkansas closed the gap to nine, 20-11, with just under five minutes to play.

The Razorbacks made a couple of mini runs to pull within seven points but Arkansas couldn’t get into an offensive rhythm, shooting just 27 percent on 8-for-20 from the floor in the first half.  Jackson was held scoreless and Wolff led the Razorbacks with five points at the break.

The second half was better for Arkansas as they played State more evenly almost matching them in scoring, 38-37.  Jackson got on the board midway through the third period helping the Razorbacks cut the lead to nine with just over 10 minutes to play in the game.

Mississippi State stretched the lead to as many as 16 in the fourth period before Arkansas cut it to 10 for the final.

NOTES

  • Arkansas Starters: Jessica Jackson, Kelsey Brooks, Devin Cosper, Melissa Wolff, Alecia Cooley
  • Mississippi State won the tip
  • Mississippi State entered the game ranked No. 13 – they are the third No. 13 team Arkansas faced this year
    • Win over No. 13 Texas A&M
    • Win over No. 13 Tennessee
  • Jordan Danberry finished with 12 points
    • It is two shy of her career best
    • It is the sixth time she has scored in double figures this year
  • Eleven of 12 Razorbacks played in the game (Tatiyana Smith)
  • Jessica Jackson finished with 12 points
    • It is the 19th time she has scored double figures this year
    • It is the 70th time in her career she has scored in double figures
    • It is the eighth consecutive double figure scoring game of the year

For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on Twitter.