Hogs Host No. 1 Sooners at BWA Sunday
Arkansas returns to Bud Walton Arena this week and has a huge test on its hands as No. 12 Arkansas hosts the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners on Sunday.
The meet is the first of two in the regular season at BWA for the Gymbacks and provides a postseason preview as Arkansas is also set to host the Fayetteville Regional at the Palace April 3-6.
Arkansas checks in at No. 12 this week with its highest NQS (national qualifying score) in program history: 197.335. With last week’s victory over Missouri, the Gymbacks sit at 7-5-1, the most regular season victories since 2016 and most under Wieber. The Razorbacks recorded a team score of 197.650 against the Tigers, a new program record and sixth score of 197+ this season, also a new program high. Arkansas also set a new program beam record at Missouri, 197.575, and has now bested its previous beam high in three straight seasons.
Oklahoma is currently the No. 1 team in the country with the highest NQS ever for any team, 197.420. The Sooners are the top team nationally on every event except floor, in which they are ranked No. 2..
Sunday’s meet, set for 4 p.m. (team intros at 3:45), is the team’s fifth annual women’s empowerment themed contest, now dubbed EmpowHER Night, and the first 1,000 fans will receive free EmpowHER t-shirts. Tickets are available online here or in-person.
The meet will be streamed live on SEC Network+.
Scouting the Series: Oklahoma
- In the 24 meetings between Arkansas and OU, the Gymbacks have been victorious over the Sooners just once, in 2009. OU last visited Fayetteville in 2019
- Sunday is the second time this season that the two teams will square off, as both competed in February’s Metroplex Challenge, in which Oklahoma came in first with a score of 198.300 and Arkansas came in third with a mark of 196.800
- This will be the last regular season contest between the Sooners and Razorbacks without conference implications as Oklahoma is set to join the league in 2025
Numbers to Know:
Oklahoma (NQS and ranking | Top ind. NQS)
- Vault: 49.505 (1st) | Katherine LaVasseur, 9.920
- Bars: 49.660 (1st) | Jordan Bowers/Audrey Davis, 9.970
- Beam: 49.700 (1st) | Ragan Smith, 9.990
- Floor: 49.630 (2nd) | Jordan Bowers, 9.955
- All-Around: 198.420 (1st) | Jordan Bowers, 39.725
Arkansas (NQS and ranking | Top ind. NQS)
- VT: 49.295 (12th) | Lauren Williams, 9.900
- UB: 49.340 (14th) | Maddie Jones, 9.890
- BB: 49.240 (T-14th) | Kalyxta Gamiao, 9.895
- FX: 49.520 (T-9th) | Frankie Price/Lauren Williams, 9.945
- AA: 197.335 (12th) | N/A
More Information
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