Razorbacks Rally to Win WNIT Opener
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas sophomore Chelsea Dungee scored eight points in overtime propelling the Razorback women’s basketball team to an 88-80 win over Houston in the first round of the WNIT in Bud Walton Arena on Thursday.
Dungee paced a late rally that sent Arkansas to its first OT since the 2016 season. She finished scoring 37 points including 23 in the second half and overtime. Dungee took over in OT, scoring eight of the Hogs’ 15 points and outscoring the Cougars 8-7. Dungee set the program record for scoring in a single-season and has 724 points in 35 contests this year.
The game was tight throughout with 13 ties and nine lead changes as the two teams spent the majority of the contest within one possession of each another. Arkansas led by two after three quarters, but the Cougars took a two-point lead under a minute until Dungee calmly sank a pair of free throws to knot the game at 73-all with 19 seconds left.
Arkansas’ defense held on the final possession of regulation as Houston was forced to take a shot from distance when they couldn’t get it inside.
Overtime began with a 6-0 Razorback run as Arkansas grabbed the momentum with the surge. Arkansas forced four Cougar turnovers and outrebounded Houston 7-4 in the final five minutes on their way to the win.
Up Next
Arkansas moves on to the second round to face UAB on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena. The Blazers won on the road at Troy 93-89 to advance.
Notes
•Arkansas Starters: Alexis Tolefree, Malica Monk, Kiara Williams, Jailyn Mason, Chelsea Dungee
•It was Arkansas’ first OT game since the 2016 season.
•Chelsea Dungee hit her sixth point of the game with :59 seconds to go in the first quarter becoming Arkansas’ single-season scoring leader with 693 points. Dungee finished with 37 points and has 724 for the season.
•Tonight’s attendance was 3,689 – the second-highest mark behind Arkansas’ elementary day crowd.
•Tonight was Arkansas’ seventh WNIT appearance. The Razorbacks have never lost a first round WNIT contest.
•Chelsea Dungee had 37 points, scoring 20+ for the 19th time and 30+ for the sixth this year. It is her 32nd game in double figures. It is her third 30+ point game in the last five contests.
•Chelse Dungee entered the game as the D1 leader for FTM and FTA. She was 15-for-17 in the game as those numbers continue to grow.
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.
