Basketball (W)

WBB Preview: Arkansas at No. 11 Kentucky

January 25, 2025
SEC Network Game Notes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Razorback women’s basketball team (8-13, 1-5 SEC) continues SEC play on Sunday when it faces No. 11 Kentucky (16-2, 5-1 SEC) at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky. Tipoff is set for 11:00 a.m. CT and the game will be televised on SEC Network with Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Carolyn Peck (analyst) on the call.

Arkansas is coming off a 101-60 loss at Vanderbilt. The Wildcats are coming off their first SEC loss after falling at Texas A&M, 61-55.

After Sunday’s game, the Razorbacks will host the Aggies on Thursday night in Bud Walton Arena.

Game Info

Opponent: Kentucky (16-2, 5-1 SEC)
Tipoff: 11:00 a.m. CT
TV/Streaming: SEC Network
Radio: Listen | RSN Affiliates
Live Stats: Click here

Arkansas
Head Coach: Mike Neighbors
Record at Arkansas: 146-105 (8th season)
Career Record: 244-146 (12th)
Leading Scorer: Izzy Higginbottom (22.8 PPG)
Leading Rebounder: Vera Ojenuwa (7.4 RPG)

Kentucky
Head Coach: Kenny Brooks
Record at Kentucky: 16-2 (1st season)
Career Record: 533-206 (23rd)
Leading Scorer: Georgia Amoore (18.3 PPG)
Leading Rebounder: Clara Strack (9.6 RPG)

Game Notes

  • This is the 43rd all-time meeting between Kentucky and Arkansas. The Wildcats lead it 26-16. The Hogs and Kentucky met twice last season and split the games with UK winning the first, 73-63, and UA winning the second, 88-61
  • Izzy Higginbottom has cemented herself as one of the best scorers in the NCAA through the first 21 games and ranks No. 5 in the country and first in the SEC in points per game (22.8) ahead of Vanderbilt’s Khamil Pierre (22.3). She has been the Hogs’ leading scorer in 16 games (Fairfield, Little Rock, UTA, UCLA, ORU, OSU, BGSU, BC, TTU, LIB, Troy, UCA, LSU, Texas, Auburn, Tennessee) this season
  • She also leads the team and ranks second in the SEC in FT%, going 139-155 (.897) from the charity stripe. Higginbottom leads the SEC and ranks second in the NCAA in FTA (155) and leads the SEC and ranks No. 2 in the NCAA with 139 FTM. She’s been perfect from the line in eight games (ETA&M, LR, UCLA, BGSU, SEMO, LU, Troy, LSU, VAN) this season.
  • Higginbottom exploded for a career-high 38 points against Boston College, the most points by a Razorback since Chelsea Dungee dropped 41 against Auburn in 2019.
  • With the 38 points from the BC game and 18 points against SEMO, Higginbottom was named Co-SEC Player of the Week.
  • With 26 points against Tennessee, Higginbottom had 19 straight games in double figures and is the first Hog to accomplish the feat since Amber Ramirez did it in 2021-22. The streak ended after Higginbottom scored just five points against No. 19 Alabama on Jan. 19.
  • Higginbottom is tied for the second most 25+ point games in the NCAA (10 games) with South Dakota’s Grace Larkins.
  • Izzy picked up her second 30+ point game of the season after she dropped 36 points at Auburn on Jan. 9. It’s tied for the second most points in an SEC game so far this season. It’s also the sixith most by a Razorback player in an SEC game and the most since Erynn Barnum scored 37 points against Ole Miss.
  • Sophomore guard Kiki Smith has established herself as a consistent scoring threat for Arkansas. The Topeka, Kan. native has 10+ points in 11 of 21 games and has started every game this season.
  • Smith paced Arkansas with 22 points in its first win of the season against East Texas A&M.  She went 8-9 from FG and the lone miss was in the fourth quarter. Against Alabama, Smith scored a season and game high 23 points, going 8-15 from FG and 4-9 from 3.
  • From beyond the arc, Kiki ranks fifth in the SEC and 57th in the NCAA with 46 3s
  • Freshman Phoenix Stotijn made her long awaited debut against Texas Tech. The Dutch native settled in in the second half and shot 3-6 from three and converted her lone free throw attempt. Stotijn finished with 12 points and played just over 20 minutes.
  • Vera Ojenuwah ranks No. 8 in the SEC with 153 rebounds.
  • The Hogs also added former Razorback soccer player Ella Rogers to the roster. Rogers, a Granville, Ohio native, was a first-team all district and first-team all-league guard for Granville High School.

For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on social media.

Powered by