Hogs Shut Down Central Arkansas to Close Out Non-Conference Play

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas women’s basketball (7-8) closed out its non-conference slate of games with an 87-70 win over Central Arkansas (6-5) on Sunday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena.

With the win, the Hogs snapped their three-game losing streak and finished the season 3-0 against in-state opponents.

Senior guard Izzy Higginbottom led the Razorbacks with 26 points despite playing 23:34 minutes after missing portions of the game due to injury. Her biggest moment came at the end of the first quarter thanks to a buzzer beater three to give Arkansas a 24-23 lead.

Higginbottom, who celebrated her 22nd birthday on Sunday, has recorded double figures in all 15 games this year, the first Hog to have 15 consecutive games in double figures since Amber Ramirez in the 2021-22 season.

The Batesville, Ark. native pushed her scoring average to an SEC-leading 23.6 points per game.

Aside from Higginbottom, Arkansas had four other players in double figures: Vera Ojenuwa (12 points), Kiki Smith (12 points), Phoenix Stotijn (12 points) and Cristina Sànchez Cerqueira (10 rebounds).

Smith returned to her consistent self after going scoreless against Troy and picked up her 10th game of the season with 10+ points, all via the three pointer. She’s up to 37 threes this season, which ranks in the top 30 of NCAA Division I players.

Sànchez Cerqueira grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds and netted her first collegiate three. Ojenuwa came close to her fifth double-double this season with 12 points and nine rebounds. Stotijn tied her career high with 12 points and set a new high with six rebounds.

Central Arkansas started the game hot with seven threes in the first quarter. The team, who averages eight per game, was held to just two threes for the rest of the afternoon. The Hogs took advantage of multiple scoring droughts and went on a 19-0 scoring run in the third quarter.

The Razorbacks’ only real blemish came at the free throw line after going 16-25 (63%). Higginbottom went 7-9 and drew eight fouls.

Up Next

The Hogs will open SEC play with No. 3/6 LSU (14-0) on Thursday, Jan. 2 at Bud Walton Arena. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. and the game will be televised on SEC Network with Brenda VanLengen (play-by-play) and Anne O’Neill (analyst) on the call.

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