Razorbacks Face Memphis In Tournament Opener
RENO, Nev. – The University of Arkansas women’s basketball team heads to Reno, Nevada, with a 4-0 record after sweeping its four-game home stand to begin the season. Arkansas (4-0) will face Memphis (2-2) in Friday’s opener of the Nugget Classic in the Lawlor Events Center.
A balanced scoring effort, both inside and outside, carried Arkansas to a 79-62 win over Stetson on Monday night to close out the home stand. Jessica Jackson led all scorers with 19 points, her fourth straight game in double figures to begin the season, while Malica Monk finished with a career-high 18 points.
Inside, Arkansas pulled down 45 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, compared to just two offensive rebounds and 18 total rebounds for Stetson. Outside, Arkansas was 7-of-14 from 3-point range, including 7-of-11 in the first half.
Memphis split its first two home games, defeating Missouri State and falling to Kansas, while losing each of its first two away games against Samford and Illinois. Memphis finished last season with an 18-13 overall record and earned a berth into the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.
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The Opponent
Arkansas will face Memphis for the 21st time in school history, winning the last nine meetings dating back to the 2000-01 season. Arkansas’ last win the WNIT came against Memphis during the 2012-13 season, also the last meeting in the series, when the Razorbacks won 67-47 in Fayetteville.
Memphis is the third of four nonconference opponents, and 14 opponents overall, that played in the postseason last year. Arkansas has already defeated South Dakota and Stetson. Memphis is also one of two American Athletic Conference opponents, along with Tulsa, on Arkansas’ schedule.
Cheyenne Creighton leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.3 points per game, and rebounding, averaging 7.8 rebounds per game. She was also recently named to the league’s weekly honor roll.
Notable
• Arkansas is 4-5 in neutral-site games under head coach Jimmy Dykes, including a 4-1 record during the 2014-15 season.
• Arkansas has used the same starting five for each of the first four games: Malica Monk, Jailyn Mason, Jessica Jackson, Bailey Zimmerman and Alecia Cooley.
• McDonald’s All-American Aaliyah Wilson made her collegiate debut against Stetson.
• Jessica Jackson has scored in double figures in each of the first four games this season.
• Jessica Jackson scored 10 of her 19 points in the first quarter against Stetson, her second career game with 10 first-quarter points.
• Malica Monk has scored in double figures in three of the first four games this season, including a career-high 18 points against Stetson.
• Arkansas leads the SEC and ranks eighth in the nation, committing just 10.5 turnovers/game. Arkansas also ranks third in the SEC and 28th nationally in turnover margin (+7.5 turnovers/game).
• Arkansas leads the SEC and ranks 12th in the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage, shooting 43.5 percent from behind the arc.
• Arkansas is off to a 4-0 start for the second time in the three seasons under head coach Jimmy Dykes. The Razorbacks won the first six games to start the 2014-15 season.
• Arkansas is seeking its first 6-0 start since the 2014-15 season, the first under head coach Jimmy Dykes, when the Razorbacks advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.
• Arkansas has led for 149:05 of 160:00 minutes played this season. Arkansas has been tied for just 3:54 and has trailed for just 7:01.
Looking Ahead
Arkansas continues play in the Nugget Class, in either the consolation game or championship game against Nevada or Navy on Saturday. The Razorbacks will also play at Tulsa on Nov. 30, in a game televised on Cox Sports, before returning home to Bud Walton Arena for an SEC/Big 12 Challenge matchup with Texas Tech on Dec. 3.
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. Fans can email the Razorback Ticket Center at raztk@uark.edu.
For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on Twitter.
