@Razorbackwbb Rolls Past Tide, 53-42
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Spurred on by a career-high 21 points from senior Jhasmin Bowen, the University of Arkansas women’s basketball team won its second consecutive Southeastern Conference contest Sunday afternoon at Foster Auditorium, rolling past the Alabama Crimson Tide by a tally of 53-42. Arkansas improves to 13-8 and 3-6 in conference. The win marked the first conference road victory for head coach Jimmy Dykes.
Alabama falls to 12-12 and 1-8 in SEC.
Thirteen of Bowen’s 21 points came in the opening 20 minutes as Arkansas built a 24-16 halftime lead. Arkansas’ defense held Alabama scoreless for an 8:50 stretch midway through the half, aiding the Razorbacks taking a nine-point edge with five minutes left in the half. Alabama was the second straight team in which Arkansas’ defense held its opponent to less than 20 points in the first frame.
Sophomore Jessica Jackson recorded her third double-double of the season, pairing 14 points with 11 rebounds. Bowen added eight rebounds as Arkansas outrebounded its 14th opponent of the season, 42-31.
Arkansas’ starters, Bowen, Jackson, Melissa Wolff, Calli Berna, and Kelsey Brooks supplied all 53 points for the Razorbacks. Brooks was the third player in double figure scoring with 10, including six in the second half. Brooks’ second-half scoring came on back-to-back possessions as she completed an old-fashioned three-point play and then splashed a triple from the wing. Those six points helped Arkansas extend its lead up to 11 with just under 15 minutes to play.
Alabama got as close as six with 7:30 to play, but did not threaten any further as the Razorbacks connected on 16-of-19 from the charity stripe.
The two teams combined for 37 fouls and 38 turnovers. Arkansas scored 17 points off 19 Tide turnovers.
Arkansas shot 34.7 percent from the field compared to Alabama’s 31.9 percent.
The Razorbacks will have a week off as their next game is Monday, Feb. 9, at home against Georgia. Tip is set for 6 p.m. and will be a part of SEC Network’s Big Monday national telecast.
QUOTABLE
“Jhas(min Bowen) was really good in every area other than she had eight turnovers. We had 19 as a team. It’s hard to win ballgames on the road with 19 turnovers but how do you do that, you defend your tails off in the halfcourt and you rebound the basketball. That’s who we’re going to be as long as I’m the head coach at Arkansas. We are going to be tough as nails around that three-point line and in, and just make you earn every point you get and then rebound with a vengeance. We only gave Alabama seven offensive rebounds and they missed almost 30-something shots in the game. Our defensive rebounding ratio was really good. Jhas was a warrior today with 21 and eight. Jessica Jackson, to me she’s back to being Jessica Jackson, she had a double-double with 14 and 11. She had 10 huge defensive rebounds. She had two blocked shots. She played 34 minutes and her energy level never dropped off. To me, it was one of Jessica’s best games since I’ve been the head coach in terms of all the things that she did to help us win the ball game today. We were 16 out of 19 from the free throw line, that’s how you win a ballgame when you only shoot 34 percent from the floor.”
(Calli Berna) ran our ball club today for 37 minutes, only had three turnovers, she had four assists, her defense was outstanding. Those two seniors, it’s hard to win on the road when your best players don’t play well, well my best players played pretty well today and my two seniors really led the charge in a lot of areas.” – head coach Jimmy Dykes
POST GAME NOTES
– Bowen (21), Jackson (14) and Brooks (10) all reached in double figures, the 15th time this season Arkansas has received double digit scoring from at least three players
– With 14 points and 11 rebounds, sophomore Jessica Jackson recorded her third double-double of the season and eighth of her career
– Arkansas held Alabama to 16 first-half points, the second straight game the defense has held its opponent in the teens at the half. It marked the third time in conference play Arkansas’ opponent has failed to reach 20 points at the half (Tennessee 18, Auburn 15, Alabama 16).
– Senior Calli Berna recorded a season-high four steals
– Senior Jhasmin Bowen set a new career-high, scoring 21 points
– Arkansas outrebounded Alabama, 42-31, the 14th opponent the Razorbacks have beaten on the boards
– Arkansas led for 36:46, trailed for 00:56 and was tied for 2:18 in today’s game.
