WBB Preview: Arkansas vs. Northwestern State
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas women’s basketball (1-0) continues its season with the annual Elementary Day game on Friday against Northwestern State (1-0).
Tipoff is set for 10:30 a.m. and the game will be streamed live on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Matt Zimmerman (analyst) on the call.
The Hogs are 14-2 in an Elementary Day game all-time, with all 14 wins coming in Bud Walton Arena. The Razorbacks played in two Elementary Day games last season: at home against UAPB and at the SEC Tournament against Kentucky. Last year’s crowd of 13,032 was the largest Elementary Day crowd in program history.
LAST TIME OUT
Arkansas picked up a historic 127-48 win over LSU New Orleans in the season opener. The Hogs set two program records: most points in a game (127) and most turnovers forced (51). The Razorbacks also tied the record for largest win (79 points). 71 of Arkansas’ 127 points came off the bench, including leading scorer Ayianna Johnson’s 23. Freshman Kyiah Prestridge recorded a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double in her collegiate debut.
ON THE LADY DEMONS
Northwestern State opened their season with a historic 120-40 win over Ecclesia to earn Alan Frey the first win of his head coaching career. NSU broke the school records for 3-pointers made in a game (20) and most points scored in a quarter (35), as well as sophomore Chloe Donnell making an NCAA record-tying 14 3-pointers en route to 46 points. The Lady Demons brought in 11 new players, three freshmen and eight transfers, including KP Parr, who played significant minutes at both Wichita State and Texas State. Common opponents this season include Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma, LSU and LSU New Orleans.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Arkansas and Northwestern State will meet for the 19th time and the 12th time in Fayetteville. The two teams last met in 2019, a 99-39 win for then-No. 21 Arkansas in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks have won 12 straight meetings dating back to 1995. The first meeting occurred in 1980 in Natchitoches. Record against: 15-3 In Fayetteville: 11-0 In Natchitoches: 0-3 Neutral: 4-0
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.
