Higginbottom Leads Arkansas in First SEC Win
AUBURN, Ala. – Arkansas women’s basketball (8-10, 1-2 SEC) picked up its first SEC win this season and took down Auburn, 59-58, at Neville Arena on Thursday night.
Guard Izzy Higginbottom scored a game high 36 points, the most scored in an SEC game so far this season. The Batesville, Ark. native eclipsed the 30 point mark for the second time this season. She scored 38 against Boston College in December.
The Hogs got off to a cold start and called a timeout after Auburn went on a 10-o run to start the game. Despite threes from Higginbottom and Carly Keats, Arkansas, the first period ended with the Tigers up 21-8.
Both teams started 0-3 in the second quarter and then Arkansas came alive led by Higginbottom’s 18 points before halftime. The Razorbacks chipped away at Auburn’s lead and cut it to three at the break, 33-30. The Hogs outscored the Tigers 22-12 in the quarter.
The game was slowed down in the third quarter with the teams committing a combined 18 turnovers. Arkansas tied the for the first time when Cristina Sanchez Cerqueira converted both of her free throws with three minutes to play. The Razorbacks outscored Auburn once again, 10-7, and went into the final period tied at 40-40.
Higginbottom gave Arkansas its first lead with 5:56 minutes left in the game. She went on to score 13 of the Razorbacks’ 19 points in the fourth quarter, including a crucial free throw with 2.4 seconds left in regulation. The Tigers called a timeout to advance the ball to half court however they failed to get a shot up before the final buzzer.
The Hogs outshot Auburn 44.9%- 40.4% (22-49, 19-47) for the game but the Tigers made up the difference with 19 free throws.
Auburn had three players in double figures and was led by forward DeYona Gatson with 16 points.
Up Next
The Hogs will return to Bud Walton Arena on Sunday, Jan. 12 and face No. 16 Tennessee (13-2, 1-2 SEC). The Lady Volunteers are coming off an 89-87 loss to No. 6 LSU on Thursday. Sunday’s game will be televised live on SEC Network with Brenda VanLengen (play-by-play) and Steffi Sorensen (analyst) on the call.
For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on social media.
