Razorbacks Host ORU In Wednesday Matinee

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas women’s basketball team continues its three-game home stand to close out nonconference play with a midday matchup against Oral Roberts on Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena.

The Razorbacks (10-1) bounced back from its first loss of the season, defeating Northwestern State 65-36 on Sunday afternoon, behind a season-high 23 points from senior Jessica Jackson. It was her 11th straight game in double figures and her third 20-point game of the season. Jackson leads the team and ranks among the Southeastern Conference leaders in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.7 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game.

Sophomore Malica Monk is second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.2 points per game. Keiryn Swenson also scored in double figures against Northwestern State, finishing with 11 points and a career-high nine rebounds. She averages 8.6 points per game and has scored in double figures five times this season.

Defensively, Arkansas held Northwestern State to 36 points and 25.0 percent shooting, both season bests for the Arkansas defense. For the season, Arkansas is limiting opponents to 54.7 points per game.

Oral Roberts (7-5) saw its four-game win streak snapped this past weekend, falling at No. 23 Arizona State 79-52 this on Saturday. The four-game win streak began with a 74-67 win at No. 12 Oklahoma on Dec. 4. The Golden Eagles outscored the Sooners 20-2 over the final 6:35 of the game.

All youth 17-and-under get in free to Wednesday’s game.

The Opponent
Arkansas will face Oral Roberts for the second straight season and the seventh time overall since the start of the 2010-11 season. Arkansas leads the all-time series 19-8, including a 15-1 record in games played in Fayetteville. Arkansas has won each of the last 15 meetings in Fayetteville and each of the last 14 meetings overall, including a 65-50 win in Fayetteville last year.

Arkansas is 3-1 against opponents that they also played last year, defeating Sam Houston State, Tulsa and Butler, while falling to Missouri State. Arkansas and Oral Roberts have played two common opponents this season: Tulsa and Missouri State. Arkansas defeated Tulsa (57-50) and Missouri State (64-62), both on the road, Oral Roberts defeated Tulsa (76-68) and Missouri State (78-56), both at home.

The Golden Eagles return four starters from last year’s team that went 14-16 overall and 10-6 in league play, finishing in a tie for third place in the Summit League regular-season standings. Oral Roberts is the second Summit League opponent that Arkansas will have played this season, having already defeated South Dakota 70-67 in Fayetteville.

Picked to finish fourth in the Summit League, Oral Roberts is off to a 7-5 start, highlighted by a 74-67 win at No. 12 Oklahoma on Dec. 4. Faith Ihim leads four scorers in double figures, averaging 14.3 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game. Lakotta Beatty (13.6), Maria Martianez (11.1) and Kaylan Mayberry (10.8) also average double figures.

Notable
• Arkansas is 26-10 in home games under head coach Jimmy Dykes. That mark includes a 7-0 record this season and a 16-4 record in nonconference home games.
• Arkansas has used the same starting five for each of the 11 games: Malica Monk, Jailyn Mason, Jessica Jackson, Bailey Zimmerman and Alecia Cooley.
• Jessica Jackson has scored in double figures in the first 11 games this season. She is averaging a team-best 16.7 points per game, which also ranks fifth in the SEC, and has led the team in scoring in nine of 11 games this season.
• Jessica Jackson scored a season-high 23 points against Northwestern State, her third 20-point game of the season and the 23rd of her career.
• Five different players have scored in double figures in the first half of games this season: Jessica Jackson (four times), Malica Monk, Alecia Cooley, Keiryn Swenson and Devin Cosper.
• Arkansas has already shot 45 percent or better six times this season. Arkansas shot 45 percent or better twice all of last season (30 games) and six times all of 2014-15 season (32 games). Arkansas is 14-0 in those games.
• Arkansas ranks third in the SEC and 28th in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 54.7 points per game. Arkansas held Northwestern State to 36 points, including 13 first-half points, both season lows for points allowed by Arkansas.
• Arkansas is off to a 10-1 start for the first time under head coach Jimmy Dykes and the first time since the 2013-14 season, when the Razorbacks won its first 13 games.

Looking Ahead
Arkansas breaks for the holidays, before closing out nonconference play against Houston Baptist on Wednesday, Dec. 28. Arkansas travels to Ole Miss for its SEC opener on New Year’s Day and hosts Mississippi State on Jan. 5 in its SEC home opener.

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.