Tolefree, Dungee pace Razorbacks past Auburn to start SEC Tournament

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Arkansas got a combination of 53 points from Alexis Tolefree and Chelsea Dungee and rolled over Auburn, 90-68, for a fast start in the SEC Tournament on Thursday afternoon.

They set a tournament record for the most three’s made in a game (17) and now have won at least one game in the tournament for the third year in a row for the first time since 2001-03.

For Tolefree, she nearly set the SEC record (8) for three’s by a single player, hitting seven on her way to her fourth-career 30-plus point performance. Dungee picked up right where she left off in last season’s SEC tournament, going for 23 points on an ultra efficient nine-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-8 from deep.

Game’s key point

Clay Maxey Autogroup

Auburn got off to a hot start in this game, opening the game on an 8-0 run. It was the second time Arkansas got down early to the Tigers this season.

Tolefree kept the Hogs afloat in the first, scoring nine of the Hogs’ 11 first-quarter points.

The slow start didn’t last. Arkansas started to roll in the second quarter, winning the period 26-10. The hammer was dropped near the end of the first half, as the Hogs went on a 20-3 run.

Tolefree and Dungee did most of the damage in the period, scoring 18 combined points. Senior forward Kiara Williams also had six in the frame.

Game highlifhts

• Arkansas’ 17 three’s in the game matched a program record. The Hogs also made 17 earlier this season against Oral Roberts.

• The Hogs had 25 assists against the Tigers, the most as a team since they had 25 against Vanderbilt back in 2018.

• With her nine points against the Tigers, Amber Ramirez crossed the 1,000 point threshold. She now has 1,008 career points.

• Dungee’s five threes in the game matched a career-high.

• A’Tyanna Gaulden stuffed the stat sheet for the Hogs, scoring 4 points, dishing six assists and grabbing six rebounds.

• Rokia Doumbia also had a very well-rounded outing, going for six rebounds, five points and four assists.

Next game

The fifth-seeded Hogs move on to face fourth-seeded Texas A&M, a rematch of this season’s SEC opener.

That game will tip-off at approximately 1 p.m. and will air on the SEC Network.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

RAZORBACK FOOTBALL

Sat, Sep 5vs North AlabamaW 31-14
Sat, Sep 12@ UtahL, 43-10
Sat, Sep 19GeorgiaL, 45-17
Sat, Sep 26Tulsa7:00 PM
SECN+
Sat, Oct 3@ Texas A&M6:00 PM
ESPN or ESPN2
Sat, Oct 10TennesseeTBA
Sat, Oct 17@ VanderbiltTBA
Sat, Oct 31vs MissouriTBA
Sat, Nov 7@ AuburnTBA
Sat, Nov 14South CarolinaTBA
Sat, Nov 21@ TexasTBA
Sat, Nov 28vs LSUTBA

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

OVERALLRecordPts
1.Bentonville (15)3-01861
2.Conway2-11552
3.Shiloh Christian (2)3-01463
4.Bentonville West (1)3-01324
5.Joe T. Robinson3-01038
6.Searcy3-0837
7.North Little Rock3-0799
6.Bryant (1)0-3526
9.Benton1-3305
10.Fayetteville2-1510
Others receiving votes: Sylvan Hills 12, El Dorado 12, HS Lakeside 8, Springdale Har-Ber 7, Greenwood 6, Stuttgart 5, Pulaski Academy 4, Sheridan 3, Mountain Home 2.
CLASS 7A
1.Bentonville (15)3-0911
2.Conway2-1642
3.Shiloh Christian (2)3-0524
4.Bentonville West (1)3-0493
5.North Little Rock3-0143
Others receiving votes: Bryant (1) 13, Fayetteville 1, Springdale Har-Ber 1.
CLASS 6A
1.Searcy (16)3-0921t
2.Benton (1)1-2591t
3.Sylvan Hills (1)2-1513
4.El Dorado (1)3-0344
5.Mountain Home2-1225
Others receiving votes: Sheridan 19, Van Buren 8.
CLASS 5A
1.Joe T. Robinson (19)3-0951
2.Greenwood1-2542
3.Greenbrier2-1443
5.Farmington3-0354
4.Hot Springs Lakeside (1)2-1305
Others receiving votes: LR Parkview 12, Jacksonville 9, Valley View 6.
CLASS 4A
1.Stuttgart (16)3-0891
2.Nashville (2)3-0673
3.Gosnell (1)3-0324
4.Arkadelphia2-1285t
5.Elkins2-1232
Others receiving votes: Ozark 14, Hamburg 13, Fountain Lake 8, Gravette 7, Bauxite 2, Pottsville 1, Booneville 1.

CLASS 3A
1.Fordyce (16)1-1901
2.Bismarck (1)2-1582
3.Mansfield2-238—
4.Rivercrest (1)3-0314
5.Smackover (2)2-1213
Others receiving votes: Glen Rose 19, Walnut Ridge (1) 11, Rison 11, Palestine-Wheatley 4, Newport 2.
CLASS 2A
1.Mount Ida (17)3-0891
2.Baptist Prep (1)3-0553
3.Junction City1-3292
4.Hazen3-026—
5.East Poinsett Co.2-1155
Others receiving votes: Poyen 17, Gurdon 14, Bigelow 11, Earle (1) 8, Dierks 7, Marked Tree 6, Hector 2, Des Arc 3, Cross County 2, Bearden 1.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
2.Corning (8)3-0322
1.Cedar Ridge (6)4-0311
3.Izard County3-010—
Others receiving votes: Magazine 9, Woodlawn 5, Rose Bud 2, Strong 1.