Hot second quarter lifts Crimson Tide past Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas was defeated by Alabama, 86-70, as the Hogs were outscored 23-6 in the second quarter.

The Razorbacks were able to cut the deficit to nine with 3:38 left in the game, but that final push came too late. Alabama shot 50 percent from the field and outrebounded Arkansas 46-32 in the game. Saylor Poffenbarger paced the Hogs with her seventh double-double of the season behind 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Alabama got on the board first off a 3-pointer, but Maryam Dauda had a quick response with one of her own. Samara Spencer then had an answer to an Alabama basket with a triple off a second-chance opportunity. The Tide went up 11-8, but Poffenbarger drained a 3-pointer to tie the game back at 11.

Dauda then drained her second 3-pointer of the night to put the Hogs back ahead. That lead was short-lived, as Alabama knocked down a 3-pointer, but Poffenbarger answered with a layup and got fouled in the process. At the media timeout taken at the 4:10 mark, Arkansas led, 16-14.

Arkansas fell in a scoring drought for over three minutes, which allowed Alabama to go on a 6-0 run, but Poffenbarger dug the Hogs out of the hole with a 3-pointer. The Hogs trailed the Tide at the end of the first, 20-19.

The Tide got their first four points in the second quarter off free throws, while Arkansas was searching for its first score in the quarter. After over 2.5 minutes, Taliah Scott, in her return after missing the previous six games due to injury, made a deep 3-pointer.

Alabama then went on a 5-0 run, as Arkansas was held in a scoring drought for over 2.5 minutes. At the media timeout taken with five minutes left in the first half, the Hogs trailed, 29-22. Makayla Daniels hit a 3-pointer, but the Tide closed out the quarter on a 17-3 run. With the Hogs outscored 23-6 in the second quarter, Arkansas trailed 43-25 at the half.

Alabama kept it rolling on offense out of the break to extend its lead to 20 after picking off a pass from the Hogs to take it to the rack for a layup. Poffenbarger then broke the Hogs’ six-minute scoring drought with a layup and Spencer followed with of her own. Arkansas made its third straight field goal after Poffenbarger knocked down her third triple of the night, as Alabama called timeout.

The Hogs trailed 47-32 with 7:37 left in the third quarter. Out of the break, Alabama outscored Arkansas 11-3 until Dauda came up with a layup. At the media timeout with 4:45 left in the half, Arkansas trailed 58-37. Alabama went on a 6-0 run and then Poffenbarger hit her fourth 3-pointer of the night. Arkansas was outscored 28-26 in the third quarter, as the Hogs trailed 71-51 after three quarters.

Dauda made two free throws to begin the fourth quarter, but Alabama knocked down a 3-pointer. Scott then put up a tough layup, while being fouled in the process, which started an 9-2 run for Arkansas.

With 4:32 left in the game, Arkansas trailed, 76-62. Scott then came up with a steal and capitalized with a layup and drew the foul to extend Arkansas’ run to a 10-0 one. With 3:59 left in the game, Arkansas trailed, 76-65. Two Spencer free throws cut the deficit to nine, while Alabama was in a scoring drought for four minutes, but then the Tide made back-to-back baskets.

Daniels knocked down a triple and Arkansas called a timeout, down 80-70 with 2:22 left in the game. Alabama closed out the game on a 6-0 run to defeat the Hogs, 86-70.

Hogs Game Highlights

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• Five Hogs finished the game in double digits in scoring

• Poffenbarger captured her seventh double-double of the season with 23 points off 9-of-18 shooting and 4-of-9 from 3-point with 11 rebounds and two steals in 30 minutes

• With 266 rebounds on the season, Poffenbarger surpassed her rebound total from last season in just 22 games, which is the fourth most in a season in school history. Poffenbarger is now tied for third in individual season double-doubles

• Spencer registered 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal. She is now tied for 11th on the career assist list with 332 and logged her 17th game this season with 10+ points

• Daniels recorded 11 points off 4-of-8 shooting and five assists

• Dauda logged 10 points, four rebounds, four assists and three blocks. With 58 swats on the season, she is tied for sixth in individual season blocks

• In her first game back after six off from injury, Scott logged 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 28 minutes played off the bench

• Arkansas logged 11 3-pointers, its 13th 10+ 3-pointer night of the year

• With 136 blocks on the season, Arkansas is tied for seventh on the individual season list for swats

Next Game

The Hogs will stay home to host Auburn on Sunday, Feb. 4 for Arkansas’ Play4Kay game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink for the game, which will tipoff at 5 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.