FAYETTEVILLE - Vanderbilt women’s basketball team is nationally ranked, but reeling going into tonight’s game against Arkansas in Walton Arena.
The Commodores (17-8, 6-6 SEC), ranked 25th in the USA Today coaches poll, are 1-5 in their past six games.
“Logic says we’re getting them at a good time, but the slump they’ve been in also kind of puts them with their back against the wall,” Arkansas Coach Tom Collen said. “They feel like now they probably have to get a few more wins to secure an NCAA Tournament spot, that this is a game they’ve got to have, so they’re going to be ready to play.”
Arkansas (17-8, 4-8) also needs to win tonight to boost its hopes of making the NCAA Tournament.
The Razorbacks are trying to win back-to-back SEC games for the first time this season after beating Alabama 75-55 last week when freshmen Kelsey Brooks, Jessica Jackson and McKenzie Adams combined for 46 points.
Arkansas, led by Brooks’ 20 points, shot 48.1 percent (26 of 54) from the field, including 10 of 20 three-pointers.
“Looking back over the season, it’s pretty clear that when we shot the basketball and put some points on the board that we’ve got a chance to win,” Collen said. “Our defense is always going to be pretty solid.”
Arkansas is second nationally in scoring defense, holding opponents to an average of 52.2 points per game. Top ranked Connecticut is No. 1 in scoring defense at 47.7 points.
“I know we’re going to go out against Vanderbilt and play hard-nosed defense and we’re going to hold them under their average,” Collen said. “We just have to step up and make shots.”
Collen said beating Alabama helped energize the Razorbacks to make a late-season run with their next two games on the road against LSU and Texas A&M before finishing the regular season at home against Missouri.
“We’re clearly a little bit more confident, and if we can find a way to beat Vanderbilt, I think our confidence will go up another notch,” Collen said. “Then that gives you a fighting chance to go on the road to hostile environments like LSU and Texas A&M and have the mindset you can pull off an upset and still have a shot at the NCAA Tournament.”
Vanderbilt is led by senior guards Christina Foggie, averaging 19.0 points per game, and Jasmine Lister, averaging 14.8.
“I’m tired of seeing them after four years,” Collen said. “They’ve both started since Day 1 when they were freshmen, and I’ll be glad when they’re gone.”
Tonight’s game Arkansas women vs. Vanderbilt WHEN 7 p.m.
WHERE Walton Arena, Fayetteville RECORDS Vanderbilt 17-8, 6-6 SEC; Arkansas 17-8, 4-8
TODAY’S GAMES All times Central Missouri at Florida, 6 p.m.
Texas A&M at Mississippi, 6 p.m.
Auburn at Tennessee, 6 p.m.
LSU at Georgia, 6 p.m.
South Carolina at Kentucky, 6 p.m.
Vanderbilt at Arkansas, 7 p.m.
Mississippi State at Alabama, 7 p.m.
SUNDAY’S GAMES Florida at South Carolina, noon Arkansas at LSU, 1 p.m.
Kentucky at Texas A&M, 1 p.m.
Tennessee at Missouri, 1 p.m.
Georgia at Auburn, 2 p.m.
Mississippi at Mississippi State, 2 p.m.
Alabama at Vanderbilt, 3 p.m.
Sports, Pages 21 on 02/20/2014