No. 23 Hogs Down Kansas State, 81-72, in Big 12/SEC Challenge

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 23 Arkansas Women’s Basketball (8-1) stayed perfect at home, beating Kansas State (4-4), 81-72. It was the first win for Head Coach Mike Neighbors in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, and the third straight for his Hogs.

Redshirt junior guard Chelsea Dungee torched yet another defense on Saturday, going for a season-high 32 points against the Wildcats. Her 32 points were the most by a Hog this season, the first 30-point performance of the 2019-20 campaign, and the most points by a Razorback since she dropped 37 on Houston during last season’s WNIT (3/21/19).

TURNING POINT

Senior guard Alexis Tolefree was huge once again for Arkansas, as she helped key the 16-6 run at the end of the third quarter that helped secure the win for the Hogs. Tolefree went for seven during the spurt, including a huge three-ball right before the period ended. Dungee was also great in the game’s defining run, dropping in five points. Makayla Daniels scored four of her eight points during that span. The run would see the Hogs go from up just one (45-44, 5:28 in the third) to up 11 by the time the period ended.

Kansas State would get the lead back down to eight on several occasions, but the Hogs wouldn’t let them closer than that.

HOG HIGHLIGHTS

  • Dungee has now scored 20+ in five straight games, while running her double-digit scoring streak up to 26.
  • Dungee has gone for 20+ 26 times in her 46 games in the Red & White.
  • Tolefree’s 21 in the game were a season-high for her, and just one point shy of her career-high.
  • Proving clutch once again, 18 of Tolefree’s 21 came in the second half.
  • For the second straight game, Amber Ramirez was huge on the glass, as she pulled down seven rebounds, tied for the team lead.
  • Ramirez also had a season-high five assists against the ‘Cats. She also finished with nine points.
  • Taylah Thomas also had seven rebounds to lead the squad.
  • Makayla Daniels had a big-time defensive game, going for a career-high five steals against Kansas State. Her five steals were the most by a Hog since Tolefree had five against Abilene Christian last season (12/8/18).

 NEXT TIME OUT

The Razorbacks continue their three-game homestand on Wednesday, December 11, when the Hogs host Tulsa. That game is set to tip-off at 6 p.m. CT, and can be viewed on the SEC Network.

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