Tim Ritter

Jackson, Bowen Lead Balanced Attack

BOX SCORE

AUBURN, Ala. – Jessica Jackson and Jhasmin Bowen paced a balanced University of Arkansas women’s basketball team attack as the Razorbacks picked up a 54-36 road SEC win at Auburn Sunday.

The win moves Arkansas to 15-9 overall and 5-7 in the SEC while Auburn falls to 9-16 overall and 0-12 in league play.

The Razorbacks used a 7-0 run in the first half and then held Auburn scoreless for 6:25 in the second half to secure the win Sunday on the SEC Network.  The Razorbacks shot 42.6 percent for the game and held Auburn to just 15 second half points.  It was the Tigers’ lowest point total of the season.

The first half was a steady, balanced 20 minutes for the Razorbacks.  The back-and-forth battle was close until the Razorbacks put together a 7-0 run taking a 20-15 lead that they held through the halftime break.  Jackson had 10 first half points helping Arkansas to a 30-21 advantage at the break.

Bowen had eight at the break with six of nine players scoring in the first 20 minutes.  The Razorbacks struggled early with turnovers but the second 10 minutes saw Arkansas take better care of the ball and improve their shooting.  Arkansas finished the half shooting 46.7 percent on 14-for-30 from the floor at the half.

Jackson finished as the game’s leading scorer with 18 points.  It is the 18th time the sophomore from Jacksonville, Ark., has scored in double figures this season. Jackson’s complete game included seven rebounds and six assists in 35 minutes.

Senior Jhasmin Bowen added 17 points and junior Melissa Wolff paced Arkansas on the boards with nine rebounds in the win.  Senior Calli Berna recorded her fifth 40+ minute game of the season.  Berna scored three points and had eight rebounds and eight assists.
@COACHJIMMYDYKES
On today’s win…
“Defensively we were really, really good. We held Auburn to 23 percent (shooting), 36 points on their home floor. The fact we only turned it over 11 times was huge. We thought if we could get our defense set, we were going to be in good shape in this game, and we did. Gave them a couple of run-outs in the first half, but my team is really, really tough. It is a resilient group. I love their toughness, I love their fight, and we got out of here with a win.”

On improvements…
“We can improve in a lot of ways. This was our third game in seven days so we had to fight through a lot of different stuff today. Our team is tough; it is a resilient group of young ladies. We won the rebounding game, which was important, and we only had two turnovers in the second half.”

@RAZORBACKWBB NOTES

  • Arkansas hosts No. 2 South Carolina Thursday in the first of three consecutive home games.
  • Joey Bailey and Khadijah West were the first players off the bench for Arkansas.
  • Arkansas is 13-20 all-time against Auburn.  The Razorbacks are 5-10 in Auburn.
  • Arkansas is 7-4 all-time on games played on Feb. 15, including 4-3 on an away court.
  • Jessica Jackson scored in double figures for the 18th time this year and for the four consecutive game.
  • Jhasmin Bowen has scored in double figures in 12 games including four in a row.
  • Arkansas has outrebounded its opponent 15 times this year including a 40-38 margin at Auburn Sunday.
  • Arkansas has led at the half in 18 games this year and led Auburn 30-21.  The Razorbacks are 13-5 in games they lead at the half.
  • Arkansas has held four SEC opponents below 50 points this season and one, Auburn, below 40 points.