FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas women improved to 8-0 and 11-0 all-time against Texas Tech in Fayetteville with a 66-60 victory over the Lady Raiders Saturday as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Arkansas made just 4 of 15 shots to begin the game, but sophomore guard Malica Monk provided a much-needed spark for the Razorbacks. She scored five of her 11 points in the quarter, had two assists and a steal.
Monk scored five points during an 11-2 Arkansas run after falling behind 11-5. The Razorbacks scored four points off turnovers in the quarter, two on Monk’s steal and layup.
“I think she’s doing what her team needs her to do,” Texas Tech Coach Candi Whitaker said of Monk. “She doesn’t take bad shots. She probably took more tonight than she normally does, but I think she’s someone who’s trying to play at a high tempo, play to her strengths. She takes care of the basketball. I think she does a good job for them.”
Jessica Jackson, who scored a team-high 14 points on 3-of-16 shooting, beat the first-quarter buzzer with a 25-foot 3-pointer to give Arkansas a 21-15 edge.
Monk was held scoreless in the second quarter, but delivered after halftime with Texas Tech closing in on Arkansas 38-26 halftime’ lead, trimming the margin to six.
In a span of just 20 seconds, Monk hit a jumper, stole a pass and scored again to push Arkansas’ lead back to double digits. The Razorbacks led by no less than six the rest of the way.
“Malica is a really tough young lady,” Arkansas Coach Jimmy Dykes said. “She plays with a lot of heart, she’s the first one on the floor for a loose ball and defends her tail off. It’s hard to take her out of the game right now because she’s our true point guard.”
In addition to her 11 points, Monk finished with 4 assists, 3 steals and no turnovers in a team-high 36 minutes. With less than a minute to play and Arkansas clinging to a seven-point lead, Monk tipped a missed Lady Raiders 3-pointer to Aaliyah Wilson. She was fouled, then split two free throws to ice the game.
“She’s definitely a speedy, speedy player,” Wilson said. “She makes everybody on the court better. I definitely love playing with her. She’s probably the fastest player I’ve ever played with.”
Texas Tech’s Recee Caldwell had a game-high 29 points, but took 25 shots to get there. She made all six of the Lady Raiders’ three-pointers in the loss. Forward Jada Terry was the only other Texas Tech player in double figures with 12.
Arkansas, unlike Texas Tech, found balance offensively and ended the game with five players with eightplus points. Wilson added 11 and Jailyn Mason and Keiryn Swenson contributed nine and eight points, respectively.
SWAC WOMEN
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 103,
ARKANSAS PINE-BLUFF 45
BROOKINGS, S.D. — South Dakota State (6-1) raced out to a 35-8 lead after the first quarter and was never threatened in the blowout victory over Arkansas Pine-Bluff (0-6) in front of 1,455 at Frost Arena.
The Jackrabbits led 11-0 early before Niya Head scored the Golden Lions’ first basket with 7:25 left in the first quarter. South Dakota State had a 65-18 halftime advantage and led by as many as 59 points with 9:08 left in the fourth quarter.
UAPB shot 31.7 percent (19 of 60) from the field and were outscored 58-20 in points in the lane and 20-5 in points off turnovers.
South Dakota State’s Madison Guebert led all scorers with 26 points, which included 8-of-12 three-point shoots. Keri Young had 17, while Clarissa Ober added 12 for the Jackrabbits.
Head led UAPB with 12 points and seven rebounds.
Sports on 12/04/2016