Hogs Drop SEC Opener to No. 6 LSU

FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas women’s basketball team (7-9, 0-1 SEC) opened SEC play with a 98-64 loss to No. 6 LSU (16-0, 1-0 SEC) on Thursday night in Bud Walton Arena.

The Tigers opened the game with a 16-2 run and never relinquished their lead. The Razorbacks charged back with an 8-0 run, capped off by a three from freshman Phoenix Stotijn, and cut the lead to six. LSU took control from that point on and never allowed Arkansas to get any closer.

The visitors took advantage of their team effort with four players in double figures and two players recording double-doubles. LSU was led by Kailyn Gilbert (16 points) and Flau’jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow (10 rebounds each).

Arkansas guard Izzy Higginbottom extended her double figures streak to 16 games and scored a game high 27 points. The senior recorded her eighth performance with at least 25 points which ties USC’s JuJu Watkins and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo for the NCAA lead. Higginbottom also finished a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line, her eighth flawless game from the charity stripe.

Junior Carly Keats turned in an 18-point performance, one point shy of her career high. 15 of her 18 points came in the second half of the game when she went 5-10 from the field with three three pointers.

LSU finished the night shooting 50% (39-78) from the field and bested Arkansas’ clip of 36% (24-67).

Up Next

The Hogs will continue SEC play on Sunday, Jan. 5 at No. 5 Texas (14-1, 1-0 SEC). The Longhorns defeated No. 9 Oklahoma on Thursday night, 70-63.

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