Preview - Arkansas vs. No. 7 Tennessee

Mario Bravante December 31, 2021

INFO
Date: Sunday, Jan. 2
Time: 12 p.m.
Opponent: No. 7/9 Tennessee
Location: Bud Walton Arena
TV: SEC Network
Promotions: Sunday Funday! Kids 12 and under get in free with a paying adult
Tickets: Click HERE ($5 Adult/$3 Youth Online, $10 Adult/$8 Youth Walk-Up)
Game Program: Click HERE

LAST TIME OUT

Arkansas Women’s Basketball fell in their last scheduled non-conference game, as Head Coach Mike Neighbors Hogs lost to Creighton, 81-72.
Creighton’s offense was excellent for most of the night, especially from deep, as they hit 14 of their 30 long balls.
Creighton also outrebounded Arkansas, 39-31, while winning the turnover battle, 11-9.
Junior guard Makayla Daniels put together an excellent outing against the Blue Jays, scoring 34 of Arkansas’ points, a new career-high. She did it on an incredibly efficient clip, too, as she made 11 of her 17 shots, five of her six threes, and seven of her eight free throws.
Sasha Goforth and Jersey Wolfenbarger both put up 11 points in the loss.
The Hogs and Blue Jays battled in the first quarter, and the frame ended with Creighton up 16-13, after Arkansas scored the last five minutes of the frame.
This game was won in the second quarter, though, as the Blue Jays dominated the frame, 29-20, behind some incredible shooting.
Lauren Jensen propelled the Creighton offense in the period, hitting three of her five triples in the quarter. Morgan Maly was also dominant in the frame, as she chipped in with eight points.
In all, despite Arkansas hitting four of its five triples in the period, Creighton hit seven of their 11, taking a commanding 12 point lead into the break.
Through the beginning of the third, the Blue Jays would run the lead up to as many as 20. Despite 34 from Daniels, Arkansas never really threatened in the second half.

STORYLINES

Entering Southeastern Conference play, Arkansas is 10-3.
Even despite their loss to Creighton, the Razorbacks are 25th in the NET rankings.
After their game against Ole Miss was postponed, the Hogs will open up SEC play against Tennessee, who comes into the contest ranked seventh in the AP Poll.
The Lady Vols’ resume coming into Sunday’s game is excellent – they are 12-1, with wins over then-No. 23 USF and then-No. 12 Texas. Their only loss was to then-No. 2 Stanford.
Sasha Goforth has gotten it going, as she has reached double-figures in seven straight games.
She’s gone for 15+ in three of those contests, while also pulling down 7+ boards in three of them.
Makayla Daniels has started to round into form – through 13 games, Daniels leads the team in scoring (15.0 PPG), assists (2.9 APG), and steals (2.0 SPG), and is third in rebounding (5.2 RPG).
Against Little Rock, Daniels held Sali Kourouma, who was averaging 21.7 points per game coming in, to just eight points on 2-16 shooting. Kourouma also had eight turnovers.
Against UCA, Daniels swiped six steals, a career-high, and the most by a Hog since Chelsea Dungee had seven against JSU (12/30/18).
Despite the loss, Daniels was phenomenal against Creighton, going for a career-best 34 points.
She did it efficiently, too, making 11 of her 17 shots, five of her six threes and seven of her eight free throws. She also swiped a team-best three steals in the loss.
Daniels also scored 32 points against Cal, which was her first-career 30+ point game.
With her second 30-point game, Daniels joins Hog legends Chelsea Dungee, Alexis Tolefree and Shameka Christon as the only Hogs with multiple 30+ point games in the same season since 2000.
Daniels has also been great defensively, as she leads the Razorbacks with 26 steals. The next closest Hog, Samara Spencer, has 16.

SCOUTING TENNESSEE

Coming into Sunday’s game, Tennessee is 12-1, with their only loss coming to powerhouse Stanford.
Tennessee is a dominant team on the glass, as their rebound margin this season (+16.8) is the best mark in the NCAA.
The Lady Vols have two players, Tamari Key and Jordan Horston, each averaging 9.4 rebounds per game.
Alexus Dye is also averaging 8.3 boards per game.
Arkansas and Tennessee have one common opponent, as both squads played at UCF.
Tennessee won their matchup, 49-41, while the Hogs lost at the buzzer, 52-51.
So far this season, Tennessee is a perfect 2-0 on the road.
The last time the two teams met in Bud Walton Arena, Arkansas got the win, only their fifth ever in the series.
In the 83-75 win, Amber Ramirez scored 29 points, making 11 of her 20 shots.

MORE INFORMATION

Parking will be free in Lot 56 (Off MLK and Razorback Road).

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.