Razorbacks Close Nonconference Play Against HBU
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas women’s basketball team closes out nonconference play and the 2016 calendar year against Houston Baptist on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena.
The Razorbacks are off to a 10-2 start, matching the 2014-15 team for the best start under head coach Jimmy Dykes. Jessica Jackson has scored in double figures in all 12 games this season and leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.8 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Malica Monk is second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.2 points per game, but missed the last game due to injury. Jailyn Mason scored a career-high 19 points against Oral Roberts, while Devin Cosper scored in double figures for the third time in four games, finishing with 10 points.
Arkansas meets Houston Baptist (2-7) for the first time in program history. The Huskies are the third different first-time opponent and third different Southland Conference opponent that the Razorbacks will have faced this season. Arkansas enters the matchup 2-0 against first-time opponents and 2-0 against Southland Conference opponents.
The Opponent
Arkansas will face Houston Baptist for the first time in program history. Houston Baptist is one of three first-time opponents on Arkansas’ schedule, along with South Dakota and Navy. Arkansas defeated both South Dakota (70-67) and Navy (70-67) earlier this season.
Houston Baptist is the third and final Southland Conference opponent that Arkansas will have faced this season. Arkansas is 46-10 all-time against Southland Conference opponents, including a 2-0 record this season and a 31-1 record at home. Arkansas defeated Sam Houston State (71-39) and Northwestern State (65-36) earlier this season, both at home.
Arkansas and Houston Baptist have also played two common opponents this season: Louisiana-Monroe and Oral Roberts. Arkansas defeated Louisiana-Monroe (92-46) and lost to Oral Roberts (70-60), both at home, while Houston Baptist lost to Louisiana-Monroe (77-65) and Oral Roberts (75-65), both at home.
Picked to finish eighth in the Southland Conference, Houston Baptist is off to a 2-7 start and is coming off a 77-65 loss to Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 21. Taylor Kollmorgen leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 9.0 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game.
Notable
• Arkansas is 26-11 in home games under head coach Jimmy Dykes. That mark includes a 7-1 record this season and a 16-5 record in nonconference home games.
• Arkansas used the same starting five for the first 11 games: Malica Monk, Jailyn Mason, Jessica Jackson, Bailey Zimmerman and Alecia Cooley.
• Arkansas used just its second different starting lineup against Oral Roberts: Jailyn Mason, Devin Cosper, Jessica Jackson, Bailey Zimmerman and Alecia Cooley.
• Jessica Jackson has scored in double figures in the first 12 games this season. She is averaging a team-best 16.8 points per game, which also ranks sixth in the SEC, and has led the team in scoring in nine of 12 games this season.
• Jailyn Mason scored a career-high 19 points against Oral Roberts, her third game in double figures and the first since Nov. 21 against Stetson.
• Devin Cosper scored in double figures for the third time in four games, finishing with 10 points against Oral Roberts. She scored nine points in the other game of the four-game stretch.
• Arkansas ranks seventh in the SEC in field-goal percentage (43.8 percent) and fourth in the SEC in 3-point field-goal percentage (36.3 percent).
• Arkansas ranks fifth in the SEC and 38th in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 56.0 points per game.
• Arkansas ranks fifth in the SEC and 31st in the nation in rebound margin, outrebounding opponents by 9.4 rebounds per game.
• Arkansas is off to a 10-2 start for the second time under head coach Jimmy Dykes, matching the 2014-15 team that went 10-2 in nonconference play and proceeded to finish 18-14 and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Looking Ahead
Arkansas moves into the SEC portion of its 2016-17 schedule, traveling to Ole Miss for its SEC opener on New Year’s Day and hosting Mississippi State on Jan. 5 in its SEC home opener. Arkansas also hosts LSU on Jan. 8.
To order tickets for the 2016-17 season, click here or call the Razorback Ticket Center at 800-982-HOGS (4647) or 479-575-5151.
For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on Twitter.
