Women's Basketball
Monk, Tolefree pace Razorbacks to 72-61 win over Alabama
Alexis Tolefree started fast and Malica Monk finished strong leading the Razorbacks to a 72-61 win over Alabama in Bud Walton Arena on Thursday.
Arkansas’ Chelsea Dungee drives around a screen by Bailey Zimmerman against Alabama on Thursday night. PHOTO BY ANDY HODGES | HITTHATLINE.COM
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas junior Alexis Tolefree started fast and senior Malica Monk finished strong leading the Razorback women’s basketball team to a 72-61 win over Alabama in Bud Walton Arena on Thursday.
Arkansas (15-5, 4-2 SEC) has won three in a row after a 39-point second half against the Crimson Tide (10-10, 2-5 SEC).
Arkansas’ Alexis Tolefree goes up for one of her four 3-point goals against Alabama. PHOTO BY ANDY HODGES | HITTHATLINE.COM
Tolefree came out of the gates firing, scoring nine of her 13 points in the first quarter. Monk finished with a team-high 16 points, 11 of which she scored in the second half.
The steady for Arkansas was the play of sophomore Taylah Thomas. Thomas tied her career-high with 15 points and had seven rebounds.
Arkansas jetted out to a 15-3 lead in the first quarter and seemed to be in control from the opening tip but Bama managed to rally and close within four points by the end of the first half.
The Razorbacks took a seven-point, 53-46, lead into the final frame, but Alabama kept hanging around through the first part of the period.
Jailyn Mason drives the baseline against Alabama, but contributed on the boards, grabbing nine rebounds while scoring seven points. PHOTO BY ANDY HODGES | HITTHATLINE.COM
Arkansas stepped on the gas with a 13-2 run while holding the visitors to a 1-for-10 performance stretching the lead to as many as 17 with under a minute to play en route to the victory.
The Razorbacks travel to Florida (5-14, 1-5 SEC) on Sunday and return home hosting Georgia (12-7, 3-3 SEC) on Thursday.
Notes
• Arkansas Starters: Alexis Tolefree, Malica Monk, Kiara Williams, Jailyn Mason, Chelsea Dungee
• The Razorbacks have forced double figure turnovers by their opponent in every game this year.
• Arkansas has won the third quarter 11 times including a 20-17 advantage over Alabama.
• Arkansas has had more or the same number of 3-point field goals in 16 games this season but Alabama had the 10-8 advantage on Thursday.
• Malica Monk has scored in double figures in 16 games … Alexis Tolefree has been in double digits in 12 games … Taylah Thomas has scored double digits in four games.
• Arkansas has won the third quarter 11 times … the fourth quarter 16 times … and the second half 13 times this year.
| Fri, Dec 27 |  | Liberty Bowl vs Texas Tech (Memphis) | 6:00 PM ESPN |
| Thu, Aug 29 |  | vs UAPB (Little Rock) | W, 70-0 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | @ Oklahoma State | L, 31-39 2OT |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | vs UAB | W, 37-27 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | @ Auburn | W, 24-14 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Texas A&M (Arl) | L, 21-17 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | vs Tennessee | W, 19-14 |
| Sat, Oct 19 |  | vs LSU | L, 34-10 |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | @ Mississippi State | W, 58-25 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | vs Ole Miss | L, 63-31 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Texas | L, 20-10 |
| Sat, Nov 23 |  | vs Louisiana Tech | W, 35-14 |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | @ Missouri | L, 28-21 |
| OVERALL | Record | Pts | ||
| 1. | Bryant (21) | 13-0 | 246 | 1 |
| 2. | Greenwood (4) | 13-0 | 224 | 2 |
| 3. | Bentonville | 9-4 | 185 | 5 |
| 4. | Little Rock Parkview | 13-1 | 173 | 4 |
| 5. | Conway | 10-2 | 156 | 3 |
| 6. | Pulaski Academy | 10-3 | 112 | 8 |
| 7. | Shiloh Christian | 9-4 | 77 | — |
| 6. | Benton | 10-2 | 67 | 6 |
| 7. | Fayetteville | 9-3 | 52 | 7 |
| 9. | Rogers | 8-4 | 35 | 9 |
| Others receiving votes: Arkadelphia 20, Farmington 15, Valley View 5, Hot Springs Lakeside, Mountain Home 2, Salem 2, Conway Christian 1, Little Rock Christian 1. | ||||
| CLASS 7A | ||||
| 1. | Bryant (25) | 13-0 | 125 | 1 |
| 2. | Bentonville | 9-4 | 98 | 3 |
| 3. | Conway | 10-2 | 77 | 2 |
| 4. | Pulaski Academy | 10-3 | 48 | 5 |
| 5. | Fayetteville | 9-3 | 17 | 4 |
| Others receiving votes: Rogers 10. | ||||
| CLASS 6A | ||||
| 1. | Greenwood (25) | 13-0 | 125 | 1 |
| 2. | Shiloh Christian | 9-4 | 96 | 4 |
| 3. | Benton | 10-2 | 77 | 2 |
| 4. | Mountain Home | 10-3 | 51 | 3 |
| 5. | Lake Hamilton | 8-4 | 20 | — |
| Others receiving votes: Little Rock Catholic 6. | ||||
| CLASS 5A | ||||
| 1. | Little Rock Parkview (25) | 13-1 | 125 | 1 |
| 4. | Farmington | 12-2 | 90 | 4 |
| 3. | Valley View | 12-1 | 68 | 3 |
| 5. | Hot Springs Lakeside | 10-3 | 60 | 5 |
| 2. | Joe T. Robinson | 10-2 | 25 | 2 |
| Others receiving votes: Morrilton 3. | ||||
| CLASS 4A | ||||
| 1. | Arkadelphia (25) | 13-2 | 125 | 2 |
| 2. | Elkins | 14-1 | 99 | 1 |
| 3. | Little Rock Mills | 12-1 | 52 | 3 |
| 4. | Southside Batesville | 13-1 | 46 | 5t |
| 5. | Warren | 10-3 | 28 | 4 |
| Others receiving votes: Malvern 3. | ||||
| CLASS 3A | ||||
| 1. | Salem (25) | 11-4 | 125 | — |
| 2. | Bismarck | 14-1 | 100 | 1 |
| 3. | Mansfield | 11-3 | 65 | — |
| 4. | Fordyce | 11-1 | 42 | 2 |
| 5. | Osceola | 10-2 | 21 | 4 |
| Others receiving votes: Booneville 17, Prescott 3, Rivercrest 2. | ||||
| CLASS 2A | ||||
| 1. | Conway Christian (25) | 14-0 | 125 | 2 |
| 2. | East Poinsett Co. | 10-4 | 98 | 4 |
| 3. | Junction City | 9-4 | 68 | — |
| 5. | Mount Ida | 9-3 | 41 | — |
| 4. | Carlisle | 11-1 | 25 | 1 |
| Others receiving votes: Des Arc 8, Bigelow 6, Murfreesboro 3, Cross County 1. | ||||
| 8-MAN SANCTIONED | ||||
| 1. | Strong-Huttig (25) | 8-0 | 75 | 1 |
| 2. | Midland | 11-1 | 50 | 2 |
| 3. | Cedar Ridge | 9-2 | 22 | 3 |
| Others receiving votes: Woodlawn 3. | ||||