Higginbottom Scores Career-High 40 Points in Loss to Florida

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas women’s basketball fell to 2-7 in SEC play after a 108-78 loss to Florida (11-10, 3-6 SEC).

Izzy Higginbottom scored a career high 40 points and became the fourth Razorback to score at least 40 points in a game in program history. The senior extended her 30+ point game streak to three games, the longest such streak on record.

Arkansas (9-15) grabbed the lead early via a layup from Vera Ojenuwa. That would be the Hogs’ only lead of the game before the Gators jumped out to a 10-4 lead. Florida shot a perfect 4-4 from beyond the arc in the first quarter and led by 12 after the first 10 minutes.

The visitors outscored the Razorbacks 26-16 in the second quarter after going 12-19 from the field. Higginbottom led Arkansas with 18 points by halftime. The Gators finished the half going 6-9 (66.7%) from three point land and 24-39 (61.5%) from the field. The Hogs were held to just 26.3% (10-38) for the half.

Arkansas had a cold start to start the third quarter and did not score until Cristina Sánchez’s layup 2:47 into the period. Florida then went on a 7-0 run and tied their highest scoring quarter of the night with 28 points. Higginbottom passed the 20-point mark with two made free throws, her 17th game with at least 20 points.

The Gators entered the fourth quarter ahead 82-54 and outscored the Razorbacks 26-24 in the final 10 minutes. Senior and former Arkansas soccer student-athlete Ella Rogers made her debut in the final minutes.

Game Notes

• Higginbottom tied for the 3rd most points in a game (40), tied for the 2nd most points in an SEC game, the fifth most field goals made in an SEC game (13)
• She moved up to No. 6 on the program’s single season scoring list with 583 points
• She is averaging 24.3 points per game, which would rank atop the program’s single season scoring average list. The mark also leads the SEC and ranks in the top 5 nationally
• She picked up her 13th game with at least 25 points and is tied with Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson to lead the NCAA
• Higginbottom has scored at least 30 points in her last three SEC appearances: 32 at No. 11 Kentucky, 33 against Texas A&M and 40 against Florida. She had 38 at Auburn in Arkansas’ first SEC win of the season

Up Next

Arkansas will travel to Mississippi State for a Thursday night matchup. The Bulldogs (16-7, 3-6 SEC) are coming off an 81-67 loss to No. 6 LSU.

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