Preview – Arkansas Set to Play at Florida State for SEC/ACC Challenge

kylie magar November 29, 2023

FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas women’s basketball team is set for a big week of matchups, starting with a trip to Tallahassee for the SEC/ACC Challenge against No. 15 Florida State on Thursday, Nov. 30. The game will be tipped off at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

GAME INFORMATION

Dates: Thursday, Nov. 30
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Opponent: No. 15 Florida State
Location: Donald L. Tucker Center (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Watch: ESPN2
Listen: Razorback Sports Network from Learfield
Arkansas Game Notes
Florida State Notes
Live Stats

STORYLINES

Arkansas started the season 6-0 for the second consecutive year, 11th time in school history, before losing to Marquette in the Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off Shell Division Championship game. The Hogs went 1-1 in the tournament to start the year 6-1
The Hogs are in the most daunting part of their non-conference schedule, beginning with the SEC/ACC Challenge game at No. 15 Florida State on Thursday and ending with playing host to No. 2 UCLA on Sunday afternoon
The SEC/ACC Challenge is in its first year, as the Hogs have drawn No. 15 Florida State, who finished last year fifth in the ACC and earned their 10th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament
In the Mike Neighbors era at Arkansas, the program has picked up seven big, ranked wins over AP ranked opponents, including six in the top 16. Arkansas will have the opportunity to increase that total for Coach Neighbors to seven with a victory on the road in Tallahassee
Improving to 7-1 would become the second-best start for Coach Neighbors during his time at Arkansas
The Hogs leading scorer since the first game of the season has been Taliah Scott. She leads the SEC with 23.1 points per game along with a league’s most free throw makes (42) and free throw attempts (48). Her scoring average is the ninth best in the country, while her point total of 162 is the third best. She is fourth in free throw makes, eighth in field goal attempts (123), ninth in free throw attempts and 13th in field goals made (55) in the NCAA
Scott has also been named SEC Freshman of the Week twice this season, most recently Co-Freshman of the Week this past week
Saylor Poffenbarger continues to be show how she is one of the best rebounders in the country. She is leading the team in rebounding with 11.1 per game, which is also first in the SEC and 12th in the country. Her 9.1 defensive boards per game is also pacing the SEC and is third in the NCAA. She has logged four games with 10+ rebounds, including 21 in the season-opening game vs. ULM. Poffenbarger also has 10 blocks on the season
Samara Spencer has a team’s most assists with 23. Her 273 career assists is No. 17 on the all-time career list at Arkansas. She is up to 989 points, needing just 11 more to be the No. 33rd member of the 1,000-point club at Arkansas, and will potentially be able accomplish that milestone in her home state
Makayla Daniels and Poffenbarger are tied for a team’s most steals with 10 a piece
The Hogs were picked to finish sixth and seventh in the SEC Preseason Media and Coaches Poll, respectively
Daniels was selected on the All-SEC Preseason Second Team, as chosen by the league’s coaches. She is averaging 11.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Her 1,542 career points is the 10th most points scored by an Arkansas women’s basketball player in school history
Additionally, Daniels broke the school record for career starts with 129 on Saturday vs. Marquette. She has started in every game she has appeared in since her freshman year

SCOUTING FLORIDA STATE

FSU is coming into the week ranked No. 15, holding a 5-1 record on the season
The Seminoles have picked up two SEC wins this season (vs. Tennessee and at Florida), but lost its first game vs. Stanford at the Ball Dawgs Classic last week, 100-88
Last season, the Seminoles were 23-10, 12-6 in the ACC, to finish fifth in the league. The team was the No. 7 seed in the Iowa City Regional, losing to Georgia, 66-54
The Seminoles were picked to finish fifth in the ACC, while two players were chosen on the Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason All-ACC Team. The 2023 WBCA National Freshman of the Year in Ta’Niya Latson and the reigning ACC Most Improved Player Makayla Timpson were selected. Latson averaged 21.3 points per game along with having logged 90 assists and 51 steals, while Timpson registered 13.2 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game, 69 blocks and 35 steals, all last season
This season, Latson leads the Seminoles with 18.6 points per game, while Timpson continues to dominate on the boards with 9.3 rebounds per game and 19 total blocks
O’Mariah Gordon has a team’s most 23 assists and Sara Bejedi has a team-leading 12 steals
Brooke Wyckoff leads the Seminoles in her third season at her alma mater. Wyckoff served as the associate head coach and interim head coach for Florida State before taking over fully. She is coming off having led the Seminoles to their 10th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance

HISTORY AGAINST THE SEMINOLES

Arkansas and Florida State have played each other just once, as the Hogs defeated the Seminoles 55-52 in overtime at the WBI Tip Off Classic in Daytona Beach, Florida on Nov. 13, 2011

LAST TIME OUT

Arkansas went 1-1 at the Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off, beating Wisconsin, 65-62, to advance to the Shell Division Championship game before losing to Marquette, who is now ranked No. 23 in the AP Poll, 74-58
In the win over Wisconsin, Daniels led the Hogs with 22 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while Scott followed with 18 points
Maryam Dauda enjoyed a career-high 11 rebounds with three assists, three blocks and two steals vs. the Badgers, while Poffenbarger had 10 boards and three steals in the game
The Hogs overcame a 10-point deficit to Wisconsin to win the contest
Against Marquette, Scott led with 21 points and Poffenbarger followed with 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks
Daniels came up with a season-high six assists vs. the Golden Eagles, while picking up her 129th career start to break the record at Arkansas
On the Fort Myers Tip-Off All-Tournament Team, Daniels represented the Hogs, having averaged 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game between those those two contests

UPCOMING

Arkansas will close out the week by hosting No. 2 UCLA on Sunday, Dec. 3. The game against the top-ranked Bruins will tipoff at 2 p.m. inside Bud Walton Arena and will be broadcast on SECN+.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about Arkansas Women’s Basketball, follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @RazorbackWBB and on Facebook at Facebook.com/RazorbackWBB. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel, “Kickin’ It In The Neighborhood” for an inside look at the Razorback women’s basketball program and check out The Neighborhood podcasts at CoachNeighbors.com.