Jackson, Cooley Have Double-Doubles On Senior Day
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Seniors Jessica Jackson and Alecia Cooley both had double-doubles but the University of Arkansas women’s basketball team suffered a 70-64 loss to Auburn in the final game of the regular season in Bud Walton Arena on Sunday.
Jackson and junior Devin Cosper both scored 14 points with the senior grabbing a season-best 12 rebounds. Cooley picked up 11 rebounds to go with 11 points while Keiryn Swenson had a 12-point afternoon and Malica Monk added 10 points for Arkansas.
Arkansas (13-16, 2-14 SEC) held a 42-40 advantage heading into the fourth quarter but the Tigers’ defense increased its intensity forcing the Razorbacks to turn over the ball. Those miscues lead to points as Auburn (17-13, 7-9 SEC) outscored Arkansas 30-17 in the final frame.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle but Malica Monk’s buzzer-beater at the end of the second quarter sent the Razorbacks into the locker room with a 34-31 advantage.
Keiryn Swenson kept Arkansas in the game in the first stanza starting the game 4-for-4 for nine quick points. Despite Swenson’s efforts, the Razorbacks were down five, 20-15, after the first 10 minutes.
The Razorbacks opened the second quarter with an 11-0 run and they held Auburn without a basket until the 3:47 mark of the frame. The Tigers then put together a mini run with consecutive 3-pointers. The team’s exchanged baskets until Monk’s half-court shot at the end of 20 minutes.
Arkansas manufactured more good defense to start the second half as the Razorbacks held the Tigers scoreless until the 4:32 mark of the third period. Arkansas took a 47-40 lead into the final quarter.
Auburn put together a 6-0 run to start final frame and added an 8-0 run, outscoring Arkansas 17-5 in the first five minutes of the period. The Tigers erased the Razorback lead and pulled ahead, 57-52, forcing an Arkansas timeout. The Razorbacks stepped up the defense and held Auburn scoreless for more than three minutes but could not cut into the lead.
Trailing by five late in the game, Arkansas had to foul the Tigers but Auburn made the bonus shots to secure the win.
Arkansas outrebounded Auburn 45-37, had a better shooting percentage with a 38.7%-35.3% advantage and hit more 3-pointers, 9-8, in the game.
Notable
• Arkansas Starters: Jessica Jackson, Malica Monk, Keiryn Swenson, Alecia Cooley, Jailyn Mason
• Arkansas had an 11-0 run to erase a five-point deficit to start the second quarter.
• Keiryn Swenson started the game 4-for-4 and had nine points at the half.
• Arkansas had a 25-13 rebounding advantage in the first half and finished with a 45-37 lead in that category.
• Senior Alecia Cooley scored in double figures for the 10th time this season and the 17th time as a Razorback.
• Jessica Jackson scored in double figures for the 23rd time of the year and the 100th time as a Razorback.
• Jessica Jackson had her second double-double in a row – the fourth of the season and the 18th of her career.
• Alecia Cooley’s double-double was the second of the season and her fifth as a Razorback.
Looking Ahead
The SEC Tournament begins March 1 in Greenville, South Carolina.
For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on Twitter.
