WBB Preview: Arkansas at Little Rock
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas women’s basketball (4-0) will face Little Rock (1-3) on Monday, Nov. 16 at the Jackson Stephens Center.
Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Matthew Westbrook (play-by-play) on the call.
LAST TIME OUT
Arkansas improved to 4-0 on the season with a 95-90 win over UA-Pine Bluff on Thursday. The Hogs led by 20 at the end of the third quarter but were outscored 35- 20 in the fourth. The Razorbacks stayed ahead with four free throws from senior guard Jianna Morris, who finished 10-10 from the line. Arkansas had its worst shooting night from the field this season (38.8%) but its best night from the free throw line (84.4%). The Hogs were 15-16 from the line in the second half.
ON THE TROJANS
Little Rock is 1-3 to start Steve Wiedower’s third season. The lone win came against Central Baptist, 108-12, in the season opener. Little Rock returned seven players and added seven. The top four scorers on this year’s team are newcomers, led by JUCO transfer Nesi Anisiobi with 14.5 points/game. Arkansas is the second SEC team to visit the Jack Stephens Center this season. Missouri won 73-50 on Nov. 6.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Arkansas and Little Rock will meet for the ninth time and the third time at Little Rock. The two teams met in Fayetteville last season, a 96-57 win for the Hogs. The last meeting in Little Rock occurred in 2024, a 71-60 OT win after Arkansas was down 16 points. The first meeting occurred in 1977 but the teams did not meet again until 2019. Record against: 8-0 Musick against: 2-0 In Fayetteville: 3-0 In Little Rock: 4-0 Neutral: 1-0
HISTORIC OPENER
Arkansas smashed program records for highest-scoring game (127) and turnovers forced (51) in its 127-48 win over LSU New Orleans in the season opener on Nov. 2. The previous points and turnovers records stood since 1987 and 1990, respectively. The 79-point win tied the program record for largest margin of victory. The Hogs’ 127 points were the second most nationally on opening night (behind LSU’s 129) and the 11th most by an SEC team all-time. Arkansas’ 64 first-half points were one point shy of tying the program’s record for most points in a first half. The Razorbacks’ 71 bench points were their most in a game since at least 2008 and the most in a game by any team in DI this season. The 68 points from turnovers were their most in a game since at least 2009. The next closest was 38 in a game in 2010. Arkansas’ 27 steals were their third-most in a game since 1982 and their most since 2004, when they had 28 against Centenary. The Razorbacks’ 28 assists were their most in a game since 2013, when they had 29 against Ole Miss. The Hogs’ 26 offensive rebounds were the most in a game since 2018. Prestridge became the first Arkansas freshman since at least 2002 to record a double-double in their collegiate debut. She was one of 11 freshmen nationally to record a double-double in their first game and one of two in the SEC joining LSU’s ZaKiyah Johnson.
NEW SQUAD
Arkansas added 12 new players to the roster: 7 transfers and 5 freshmen. Transfers include Ayianna Johnson (Colorado-Colorado Springs), Grace McCallop (Cal), Jianna Morris (Louisiana Tech), Kateri Poole (Houston), D’Asia Thomas-Harris (Georgia Tech), Daniah Trammell (Arizona) and Beautiful Waheed (St. John’s).
Freshmen include Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year Kyiah Prestridge, Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year Whitley Rogers, Arkansas native Allannah Orsby, and Europeans Julija Matic and Adriana Reijnen.
For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on social media.
