Preview - Arkansas vs. Kentucky

Mario Bravante February 19, 2022

INFO
Date: Sunday, Feb. 20
Time: 1 p.m.
Opponent: Kentucky
Location: Bud Walton Arena
Watch: SEC Network
Listen: Tune-In
Tickets: Click HERE ($5 Adult/$3 Youth Online, $10 Adult/$8 Youth Walk-Up)
Promotions: #23For23, Pink Out (Play 4 Kay), Alumni Day, Sunday Funday (Kids 12 & Under in Free), Senior Day
Game Program: Click HERE

LAST TIME OUT

Arkansas had its two-game winning streak snapped on Thursday night in Exactech Arena, as No. 17 Florida downed the Hogs, 76-67.
Turnovers were the story of the night – Arkansas came into the game averaging just under 11 per game, second best in the nation, but finished with 20, their worst mark of the season.
The three-point shot was also a storyline in this one, as Arkansas, a normally excellent three-point shooting ballclub, only hit one its 13 shots from beyond the arc.
Outside of the turnovers, the Hogs’ offense was efficient – Head Coach Mike Neighbors’ squad shot 49 percent from the field. Reigning Freshman of the Week Samara Spencer led the charge once again, going for a team-high 19 points. Sophomore Sasha Goforth scored well in this one as well, going for 18 points.
This game was close through the first quarter, and the Gators beat the buzzer to end the frame up five. Goforth and company kept it close early, but the Gators started to really pull away in the second quarter, as they forced nine Arkansas turnovers.
Ironically, Arkansas didn’t miss a shot in the period – they were a perfect seven of seven in the frame. The Gator lead stood at 14 when the halftime buzzer sounded.
The lead continued to grow in the third frame, and it ballooned out to as many as 18 at points during the third period.
Arkansas would mount a comeback late, cutting the deficit to eight several times, but would get no closer, as the Gators were able to knock in some free throws late.
Spencer has now gone for 17 or more points in seven straight games.
Amber Ramirez secured the first double-double of her career, going for 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Jersey Wolfenbarger showed her continued progression, going for 15 points and six boards.
Goforth blocked three more shots against UF, her seventh game this season with 3+ blocks.

STORYLINES

On Sunday, Arkansas will honor Amber Ramirez, the team’s lone senior.
To do so, Arkansas Women’s Basketball is seeking a top-23 crowd. The number to get there is 6,699.
A three-year starter for Arkansas, and a one-year cheering machine during her redshirt season, Amber has consistently provided Arkansas Women’s Basketball fans one of the best shows in all of college basketball.
The Splash Sister has lived up to her name: Amber has hit 247 threes as a Hog, the fifth-most in program history despite only playing three seasons on the Hill.
Ramirez has been on an absolute tear since the calendar flipped to 2022.
She scored a season-best 30 points, including the game-winning bucket with under a second to play, against Auburn. She dropped in 25 more on the road at Missouri.
She was named the SEC Co-Player of the Week on February 1 after averaging 27 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists on 54 percent shooting against #12 LSU and at #7 Tennessee.
Ramirez has been on a different level in SEC play – the Splash Sister is averaging 20.7 points per game, third in the league.
She also leads the SEC in 3PM (43) and 3PT percentage (46.2).
Ramirez’s averages in the nine game she’s played against top-5 teams while on the Hill are up over her normal averages: 18.2 PPG on 48.7 percent from the field and 52 percent from long range.
Expanded out to top-10 teams, the same trend is evident: in 13 games, Ramirez has averaged 17.6 PPG on 48 percent from the field and 51 percent from three.

SCOUTING KENTUCKY

Kentucky has won three straight league games for the first time this season.
Kentucky is coming off a come-from-behind victory vs. Miss. State on Tuesday. UK trailed by 15 in the 4th quarter before finishing the game on a 24-2 run to earn the 81-74 victory.
It was the largest comeback for UK in the final 10 minutes of a game since 2014 when UK erased a 16-point Louisville lead.
UK followed with a win vs. Vandy Thursday.
UK’s offense has slowly come back to life in the last two games. The Wildcats have had 20+ assists in each of the last two games for the first time in league play and has hit seven 3s or more in back-to-back league games for the first time in conference action.
Six of UK’s 11 losses have come with UK not full strength, missing at least one starter in each of those games and multiple starters in 4 games.
The other 5 games were against top-10 ranked teams.
Rhyne Howard scored her 2,000th point at Vandy, becoming the third-fastest Wildcat – men or women – to reach that threshold. She joins elite company with Dan Issel and Valerie Still as the only UK players to score 2,000 career points in 100 games or less.
Howard has 2,105 career points and ranks second all-time in UK WBB history. She needs 34 more points to pass Dan Issel and become the second leading scorer – men’s or women’s – in school history.
Howard entered the season as a preseason first-team All-American by the AP while league coaches and league media tabbed her the SEC Preseason Player of the Year. Howard is also on the Cheryl Miller Award, Wooden Award, Wade Trophy and Naismith Trophy Watch List. She has won back-to-back SEC Player of the Year honors.

MORE INFORMATION

Parking will be free in Lot 56 (Off MLK and Razorback Road). Make sure to wear Pink!

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.