Razorback Roundup -- Nov. 24

RAZORBACK ROUNDUPNov. 24, 2008MEN’S BASKETBALL (2-1) Arkansas played at Missouri State on Saturday, dropping a 62-57 decision is the first game ever in MSU’s JQH Arena in front of a crowd of 10,285. The Razorbacks rallied from a 13-point deficit to take the lead late before falling in the final minutes. Rotnei Clarke had 19 points and Michael Sanchez 11 rebounds. Arkansas got 12 points and 12 rebounds from Sanchez to post a 68-59 win over California-Davis on Thursday. The win was Arkansas’ 200th in Bud Walton Arena. The Razorbacks are 200-44 in 16 years in the building for a winning percentage of .820. Also last week, head coach John Pelphrey announced the signing of three student-athletes for next season – 7-0, 230-pound center Anthony Borden of West Memphis (Ark.) HS; 6-5, 213-pound wing Jemal Farmer of Chicago and Cloud (Concordia, Kan.) Community College; and 6-7, 220-pound forward Marshawn Powell of Crozet, Va.WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (4-0) Freshman Ceira Ricketts went from substitute to starter to team leading scorer as Arkansas won three games in four and a half days last week. Seniors Whitney Jones (15 pts) and Ayana Brereton (11 rebounds) led Arkansas past High Point to start the week. Sophomore Shanita Arnold doubled her career high with 22 to lead over SMU. Ricketts and Charity Ford were the co-leaders with 10 each against Northwestern. Through the week, Ricketts averaged 12.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 4.0 steals — leading the SEC in steals over the weekend. The Razorbacks head to the Junkanoo Jam on Grand Bahama Island this Friday and Saturday, playing Oregon State in the first round then either Pacific or North Carolina.MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY No. 24 Arkansas runs at the NCAA Championships today (Monday) at 11:45 a.m. CST. The NCAA Championships are broadcast live on CBS College Sports. The broadcast starts at 11 a.m. CST and live streaming of the event can be found at NCAA.com.WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY No. 11 Arkansas runs at the NCAA Championships today (Monday) at 11 a.m. CST. The NCAA Championships are broadcast live on CBS College Sports. The broadcast starts at 11 a.m. CST and live streaming of the event can be found at NCAA.com.FOOTBALL (4-7, 1-6) Junior Lucas Miller had a career game for the Razorbacks against Mississippi State, catching 10 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown. His 201 yards receiving are the second-most in Arkansas history behind Mike Reppond’s 204 yards, which he set on Nov. 6, 1971, against Rice. Redshirt freshman Nathan Dick started his first game at quarterback for the Hogs and completed 25 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns, but despite Arkansas’ best efforts, a last-second field goal which could have tied the game sailed wide right and Arkansas fell to Mississippi State, 31-28, in Starkville, Miss. The Razorbacks conclude their season on Friday against LSU in Little Rock in a 1:30 p.m. game televised by CBS.MEN’S GOLF The Hogs return from the off-season Feb. 22 at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate for their first tournament of the spring.WOMEN’S GOLF Arkansas returns to action at the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic in Baton Rouge, La., March 13-15.GYMNASTICS Arkansas begins the season ranked 12th in the GymInfo.com pre-season poll, it was announced last week. The Razorbacks, who begin the year with the program’s highest pre-season rankings, had one of their best seasons in history in 2008 and graduated just two seniors from that squad. Arkansas was ranked No. 14 in 2008 and No. 15 in 2007. The Razorbacks, who begin their seventh season, earned the program’s second trip to the NCAA Championships last year and had their first All-Americas in Michelle Stout and Casey Jo Magee. The junior duo return with senior Alex LaChance and juniors Amy DeFilippo and Sarah Nagashima leading the team. Georgia grabbed the top spot in the pre-season poll. The Razorbacks open the season by hosting No. 21 Ohio State in a dual meet in Barnhill Arena. Arkansas travels to No. 9 Oregon State where it also faces California, which is receiving votes, followed by a home meet with No. 3 Florida. The Razorbacks also travel to No. 10 Oklahoma, host No. 6 Alabama, travel to No. 25 Kentucky and No. 15 Auburn, host No. 1 Georgia, travel to No. 7 LSU, and host No. 22 Minnesota before wrapping up the regular season at Texas Woman’s University. SWIMMING AND DIVING (6-1, 2-1) The No. 22 Razorbacks are idle this week. They will be back in competition the weekend of Dec. 5-7 at the Mizzou Invite in Columbia, Mo. Head coach Jeff Poppell announced three signees for the 2009-10 season last week. Haley Smith, a backstroke swimmer from Overland Park, Kan.; Dannica Brennan, an Olympic Trials qualifier in the backstroke from Great Falls, Mont.; and Chelsea Franklin, a distance freestyler and Olympic Trials qualifier from Fort Meyers, Fla., will be strong additions to the Razorbacks next season.MEN’S TENNIS The Razorbacks will be back on the court Jan.15 at the SEC Indoor Invitational in Lexington, Ky.VOLLEYBALL (7-22, 4-15) The Razorbacks return to the court Saturday, Nov. 29, for the final match of the 2008 season. Arkansas celebrates Senior Day honoring the accomplishments of a trio of Razorbacks. Seniors Christina Lawrence, Caira Dortch and Yun Tang suit up for the Cardinal and White for the final time. The match also marks the end of the first season for first-year head coach Robert Pulliza and his staff.OLYMPIC SPORT PRESS CONFERENCETuesday at 1 p.m. in Barnhill Arena interview room