Mason Paces First SEC Win
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Thirteen first quarter points by freshman Jailyn Mason and five players in double figures keyed the first Southeastern Conference win of the season for the University of Arkansas women’s basketball team as they defeated Alabama, 68-50, in Tuscaloosa on Sunday.
Arkansas (12-6, 1-4 SEC) scored a season-best 68 points in an SEC game in the win over the Crimson Tide (14-4, 2-3 SEC).
The Razorbacks came out of the gates on fire jumping out to a 29-15 first quarter lead and never looked back. Mason dropped in 15 points in the game followed by 12 from Keiryn Swenson, 11 from Malica Monk and 10 each from Devin Cosper and Alecia Cooley.
Swenson was one rebound shy of a double-double with 12 points and nine boards as the Razorbacks dominated the glass, 47-31, over Alabama.
Key Run: 10-0
Arkansas finished the first quarter with a 10-0 run and didn’t miss back-to-back baskets in the frame. The Razorbacks shot 75% going 12-for-16 from the floor. Their 12 made baskets was one less the total attempts by Alabama (13). Freshman Jailyn Mason paced the team with 13 first quarter points – the first time in her career she has been in double figures in the first quarter.
Key Run II: 9-0
Arkansas was cold to start the second quarter going 1-for-6 in the opening minutes. They took advantage of cold shooting by Bama as well as the teams combined for five total points in the first five minutes of the stanza. Arkansas would heat up finishing on a 9-0 run taking a 22-point lead into the locker room. The Razorbacks held the Crimson Tide without a point for the final 5:22 of the half.
Key Stat: 5-for-5
Arkansas went 5-for-5 in the first quarter taking a 16-9 lead into the first media timeout with 4:22 to play in the frame. That run keyed the Razorbacks strong finish with a 10-0 run to take a 29-15 lead after the first 10 minutes.
Notable
• All Time: 21-14 | Fayetteville: 11-5 | Tuscaloosa: 9-7 | Neutral: 1-2 | Streak: Arkansas W6
• Arkansas opened the game 5-for-5 and finished the first quarter on a 10-0 leading 29-15 after the first 10 minutes.
• Arkansas almost made more baskets (12) than Alabama had attempts (13) in the first quarter.
• Arkansas did not miss back-to-back baskets in the first quarter but opened the second frame 1-for-6.
• Season-best first half points (40) in SEC play this year.
• Alabama’s 18 first half points was a season low for the Crimson Tide as was their 9.1% shooting (1-11) in the second quarter.
• Kiara Williams tied her career best with six rebounds
• Arkansas has shot 45 percent or better in eight games this season. Arkansas shot 45 percent or better twice all of last season (30 games) and six times all of 2014-15 (32 games). Arkansas is now 16-0 when shooting 45 percent or better under head coach Jimmy Dykes.
• Arkansas has had six different players score in double figures in the first half of games this season: Jessica Jackson (five times), Malica Monk (two times), Keiryn Swenson (two times), Alecia Cooley, Devin Cosper and Malica Monk once each.
• Arkansas has won the rebounding battle in 14 of the first 17 games this season, going 11-2 in those games and improving to 34-9 when winning the rebounding battle under head coach Jimmy Dykes.
• Arkansas ranks sixth in the SEC and 45th in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 58.1 points per game. They held Alabama below that with just 50 Crimson Tide points.
• Arkansas ranks seventh in the SEC in defensive rebounds per game (26.3). The Razorbacks picked up 33 defensive boards on Sunday.
Up Next
The Razorbacks return home after a two-game road swing hosting Vanderbilt on Jan. 19.
Other future home games include Missouri (Jan. 23), Georgia (Feb. 2), No. 5 South Carolina (Feb. 5), No. 24 Kentucky (Feb. 16) and Auburn (Feb. 26).
To order tickets for the 2016-17 season, click here or call the Razorback Ticket Center at 800-982-HOGS (4647) or 479-575-5151.
For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on Twitter.
