Behind Williams’ career night, Hogs get close before falling to Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A career day for Kiara Williams and solid efforts from Chelsea Dungee and Malica Monk were not enough to complete the upset at No. 17 Kentucky as Arkansas fell, 61-59.

The hotly-contested second half saw Kentucky (21-5, 8-4 SEC) grab a 59-55 lead with 1:05 to play. The Wildcats fouled Dungee who made one bonus shot pulling Arkansas (16-10, 5-7 SEC) within three, 59-56.

The teams exchanged contested misses as the clock wound down. Arkansas found senior Raven Northcross-Baker alone in the corner for a 3-point field goal to tie the game at 59-all with just 22 seconds on the clock.

Kentucky got the ball back and got the home rim bounce on a shot that rattled around the cylinder before falling in with three seconds left in the game. The Wildcats stole the inbounds pass and hung on for the win.

Williams had a career-best 17 rebounds and seven blocked shots adding in a 14-point offensive effort for Arkansas. Dungee scored 20 points for the Razorbacks. It was her 23rd game of the season in double figures and her 13th game with 20 or more points.

Monk added a 10-point performance handling the ball 37 minutes with only one turnover. It was Monk’s 21st game of the season in double figures.

Arkansas got out to a slow start and trailed by eight points after the first quarter, but the Razorbacks stormed back outscoring Kentucky 19-8 in the second quarter to lead by three, 33-30, at the break.

The second half saw four ties and one lead change with Monk, Dungee and Jailyn Mason playing 20 minutes each for the Razorbacks.

The Wildcats were able to go to their bench with 10 different players seeing the court in the second half. Taylor Murray stepped up with 12 points putting the Wildcats in a position to win the game late.

Notes

• Arkansas Starters: Alexis Tolefree, Malica Monk, Kiara Williams, Jailyn Mason, Chelsea Dungee.

• Chelsea Dungee has scored in double figures in 23 games including six in a row. She had 15 points at the half and finished with 20 for the game.

• Malica Monk has scored in double figures in 20 games this year.

• Kiara Williams finished with a career-best 17 rebounds. Williams had 11 boards at the break. It is her fifth game of the year with double-digit boards and ninth for the team this season.

• Kiara Williams had her third double-double with 14 points and 17 rebounds. It is the fourth double-double of the year for Arkansas. It is Williams’ eighth double-double for her career.

• Kiara Williams had a career-best seven blocks in the game.

Up Next

The Razorbacks travel to Georgia, Thursday, Feb. 21 for a 6 p.m. tip. It is the second meeting with the Lady Bulldogs. Arkansas dropped the first contest in Bud Walton Arena, 80-72, in the last game of January.

The Razorbacks return home hosting the first of two home games welcoming Ole Miss for Senior Day on Feb. 24.

Arkansas hosts Missouri Feb. 28 and travels to Texas A&M on March 3, as the regular season concludes.