Arkansas coach Eric Musselman was pleased with the play to stay focused in overtime, knocking off the Tigers behind Justin Smith’s big game.
Gear sets new school mark in mile leading Hogs to top team finish
The second day of the Tyson Invitational provided more superlatives from the No. 1 Razorbacks as they claimed a fifth consecutive team victory this indoor season while the highlight performance was a school record in the mile by Krissy Gear.
Facing a field of nationally ranked teams, the Razorbacks produced another dominant team victory with 140 points, as Alabama (64) and Oregon (62) battled for the runner-up position. The rest of the field included Texas A&M (52), Texas (51), Florida (49), Florida State (42), and LSU (28).
“We’re super elated,” said Razorback women’s head coach Lance Harter. “We ran our DMR to get it qualified last night, so Krissy Gear came back in the mile today and rewrote the record book with a 4:31. She just did a fantastic job.
“We had a bunch of Razorbacks run lifetime bests behind her, so our depth really showed through between the 3,000 and DMR yesterday and coming back in the mile today. Everybody is walking away healthy, so we’re looking forward to even greater things in two weeks.”
Clocking a time of 4:31.83 to finish comfortably ahead of Alabama’s Amaris Tyynismaa (4:33.22), Gear surpassed the previous Arkansas school record of 4:32.48 set in 2015 by Dominique Scott on Kentucky’s oversized track. Gear’s previous best in the mile this season was a 4:38.22 from the Arkansas Invitational back in January while her career best was a 4:36.59 from 2020 in a race on the oversized track at Washington.
“It was a big confidence booster, I didn’t think I had it in me,” said Gear, who split 4:34.25 on the 1,600m leg of the distance medley relay Friday evening. “I went into it with a mindset of don’t think, just race. Obviously, our team is so deep, so it helped having teammates to push me up as well as others in the race. The field was so strong.”
The time by Gear ranks second among collegians this season as Colorado’s Sage Hurta ran 4:31.80 Saturday on an oversized track at Iowa State. Splits for Gear included 1:07.77, 2:17.56, and 3:26.95, while the last two laps were run in 64.89 with a final circuit of 32.17.
“When I looked at the scoreboard, I thought oh, I set a PR,” Gear noted. “There were so many PR’s listed for Arkansas as well as other teams. It was so exciting and I’m so happy. I asked if I was finally able to make the top 10 list, since I wasn’t able to do that last year. Then they told me my time was above Nikki Hiltz and Dom Scott.
“I really don’t have any words for that. To know that I’m on par where they were in college, I guess gives me hope for the future.”
Razorback teammates finishing behind Gear in places 3-4-7-9 included Lauren Gregory (4:34.19), Katie Izzo (4:34.39), Gracie Hyde (4:37.57), and Logan Morris (4:42.29).
Izzo moved to No. 7 on the Arkansas all-time list while Gregory has a better time of 4:32.92 which now ranks No. 4. Hyde added another career best to her impressive collection this indoor season.
In another section of the mile, Isabel Van Camp won with a career best of 4:43.65 with Taylor Ewert a step behind in a PR of 4:43.78. They placed 11th and 12th overall. Career best efforts were also attained by Quinn Owen (4:44.96) and Josie Carson (4:57.46), with Abby Gray (4:49.22) splitting their finish from another section.
A national record was broken in the 800m as Shafiqua Maloney won the race in 2:04.65, improving upon her previous mark of 2:05.52 as the national record holder for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Maloney’s splits in the victory included 30.53, 31.69 [1:02.22], 31.67 [1:33.89], 30.76.
Maloney nearly won by a full second over Florida’s Gabrielle Wilkinson (2:05.57) and Valery Tobias of Texas (2:05.65). Razorback Kennedy Thomson (2:09.74) finished ninth.
Another event area that provided a bulk of points was the pole vault where Bailee McCorkle won for the second consecutive week in leading an Arkansas 1-2-3-4-6 finish. This time McCorkle cleared 14-2 (4.32) while a pair of teammates joined her over 14 feet.
“In the pole vault we put together three vaulters over 14 feet with Bailee McCorkle gaining the win,” said Harter. “Then our 200m runners showed great depth. The momentum is in our favor.”
Nastassja Campbell and Mackenzie Hayward both vaulted over 14-0 (4.27) in placing second and third. Kaitlyn Banas (13-8 ¼ | 4.17) and Grace Ridgeway (12-6 ½ | 3.82) both set career best heights in placing fourth and sixth.
Jayla Hollis led the Razorback sprinters in the 200m, clocking a 23.25 to place fourth behind the trio of Kynnedy Flannel of Texas (22.73), Alabama’s Tamara Clark (22.89), and Talitha Diggs of Florida (22.94).
The Arkansas crew included Rosey Effiong (23.45), Jada Baylark (23.49), Tiana Wilson (23.66), Kethlin Campbell (23.97), Morgan Burks-Magee (24.02), and Daszay Freeman (24.96).
The 4×400 capped the Tyson Invitational with a collegiate record as Texas A&M won in 3:26.27 to break the previous mark of 3:27.03 in 2017. Finishing behind the Aggies were Texas (3:32.64), Florida (3:34.02) and Arkansas (3:36.46).
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Vanover on staying ready sitting on bench first half, then playing well second half
Razorbacks’ Connor Vanover (12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 assists) on just staying ready after sitting out much of first half in win over Tigers.
Hogs-Gators here, ESPN Arkansas stations, pregame at 5:30
• Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (16-5, 8-4 SEC) vs. Florida Gators (10-5, 6-4 SEC)
• What: Razorbacks first time in the AP top 25 since Jan. 6, 2018.
• When: Tuesday, Feb. 16, 6 p.m. (pregame starts at 5:30 p.m.)
• Where: Nolan Richardson Court at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville
• TV: ESPN2 (Karl Ravech and Jimmy Dykes) CLICK HERE
• ONLINE: HitThatLine.com LISTEN HERE
• Radio: ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
Arkansas, ranked No. 24 in the country, hosts Florida tonight at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
Pregame coverage starts at 5:30 p.m. and you can LISTEN HERE or on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman will have all the coverage.
• This will be the 39th meeting in the series. The Gators are the Razorbacks’ second-most, infrequently played team in the SEC (behind South Carolina at 35).
The Gators own a 26-12 advantage in the series with all meetings coming since Arkansas joined the SEC. However, the Hogs own a slight 8-7 advantage in games played in Fayetteville.
• Arkansas has lost three straight in the series, 11 of the last 12 and 17 of the last 19.
• With six straight SEC wins, Arkansas shot up the national polls this week, landing at #24 in the Associated Press poll and “ No. 28” in the USA Today-Coaches poll.
It marks the first time Arkansas has been ranked since Jan. 6, 2018 when the Razorbacks were No. 22 in the AP.
• This is Arkansas’ first six-game, SEC win streak since winning seven-straight SEC games in February 2015. The Hogs also won seven-straight SEC games to end the 1994-95 regular season.
• After wins at Kentucky and Missouri, Moses Moody was named the College Sports Madness SEC Player of the Week for a second time this season.
• In 6-of-the-last-7 games, Arkansas shot over 43 percent from the field each time and has combined to shoot 48.4% (182-376) in those six contests.
Hogs-Tigers here, ESPN Arkansas stations, pregame at 2:30
• Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (15-5, 7-4 SEC) at No. 10 Missouri Tigers (13-4, 6-4 SEC)
• What: Razorbacks looking to even score with Tigers
• When: Saturday, Feb. 13, 3 p.m. (pregame starts at 2:30 p.m.)
• Where: Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri.
• TV: ESPN (Tom Hart and Dalen Cuff) CLICK HERE
• ONLINE: HitThatLine.com LISTEN HERE
• Radio: ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
Arkansas stays on the road to face 10th-ranked Missouri on Saturday with tipoff set for 3 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
Pregame coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. and you can LISTEN HERE or on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman will have all the coverage.
Arkansas is looking to even the season series with the Tigers. Earlier this year, then-No. 12 Mizzou claimed an 81-68 victory in Bud Walton Arena.
• This will be the 55th meeting between Arkansas and Missouri — the 18th since Missouri joined the league in 2012-13.
Arkansas owns a 28-26 advantage in the series but trails the Tigers 16-10 in Columbia. The Razorbacks lead 9-8 in SEC meetings.
• Even though Arkansas lost at Oklahoma State on Jan. 30 in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge, Arkansas is riding a five-game SEC win streak.
This is Arkansas’ first five-game, SEC win streak since Feb. 2017. Arkansas won seven-straight SEC games in February 2015 and won seven-straight SEC games to end the 1994-95 season Arkansas’ longest SEC win streak is 11 games to close the 1993-94 season.
• Eric Musselman preaches to his team to “value the ball.”
In his first five years as a collegiate head coach, Musselman’s teams have led their respective conference in the fewest turnovers per game in each of the last four years, assist-to-turnover ratio three times and turnover margin in each of the last three years.
This year, Arkansas ranks second in the SEC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.15) and third in both the fewest turnovers per game (12.8) and turnover margin (+2.6).
• The SEC announced that Tuesday’s Arkansas-Florida game in Bud Walton Arena will be televised on ESPN2. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
Torres previews Razorbacks’ rematch going on road to play Missouri
Aaron Torres of Fox Sports Radio talked on Halftime with Phil Elson, Matt Jenkins and Matt Travis about the Hogs facing the Tigers again.
Mason previewing Razorbacks’ road matchup with Missouri on Saturday
Former Razorback (and radio host) Nick Mason talked with Tye Richardson and Tommy Craft on The Morning Rush on Friday morning.
Bud Light Seltzer Morning Rush Podcast – Mizzou Sat/Valentine’s Day Sun
Tye & Tommy on the Mizzou game, Valentine’s Day fun, Nick Mason joins and more!
Slocum, Dungee lead Razorbacks to 86-80 win over Mississippi State
Arkansas started fast, then had to hold off a bigger, stronger Mississippi State squad for an 86-80 win at Bud Walton Arena on Thursday night.
The Razorbacks (15-7, 5-6) downed the Bulldogs for the first time under Mike Neighbors in his four years. The Hogs have now beaten every SEC tam at least once since he took over the program.
Arkansas is also starting to get on a streak at the right time, winning four of five now.
Guards Destiny Slocum and Chelsea Dungee stole the show.
Slocum scored her most points as a Razorback, pouring in 26 on 11-15 shooting from the field. Despite suffering a left hand injury in the second half, Slocum remained in the game, and continued to keep the Hogs on track offensively.
Dungee meanwhile, joined the 2,000-point club in the fourth quarter, one of two Hogs ever to accomplish the feat, joining Arkansas LadyBack legend Bettye Fiscus.
The redshirt senior tallied 22 points in the effort, including 15 in the second half, not missing a single shot after the intermission.
Turning point
The Hogs got off to a fast start, grabbing a double-digit lead in the first quarter after Slocum exploded for 12 points in the opening frame.
The Razorbacks continued to keep the pressure on throughout the first half and gained a big edge at the free throw line, making all 11 attempts at the stripe in the first half while only allowing one MSU free throw attempt.
Arkansas came out of the locker room flat in the second half, as Mississippi State cut a 15-point deficit down to just two in the closing seconds of the third quarter.
But the Hogs answered the call in the fourth quarter, with Slocum and Dungee combining for 17 points in the game’s crucial moments.
It was Arkansas’s two leading scorers who notched the last eight points for the Hogs down the stretch.
Hogs highlights
• Dungee now has 2,004 points, needing just 70 more to pass Fiscus’ collegiate mark of 2,073.
• Slocum also led the Hogs in assists, dishing four of them.
• Sophomore guard Makayla Daniels notched three steals, a team-high.
• Amber Ramirez stayed hot, scoring 12 points on 5-7 shooting, including a perfect 2-2 mark from deep.
• Erynn Barnum and Taylah Thomas were big down-low for the Hogs, snatching 10 total boards while holding Bulldogs center Jessika Carter to just 11 points on the night.
• The Hogs shot 58 percent from the field as a team against the Bulldogs, the best mark for the Razorbacks in an SEC game since they shot a blistering 64 percent against Ole Miss last season (2-16-20).
Next game
Arkansas returns to Bud Walton Arena next Thursday to take on Ole Miss.
The Hogs and Rebels will tipoff at 7 p.m. and the game will stream on the SEC Network+.
Neighbors on Hogs playing ‘like a team that’s been there’ holding off Bulldogs
Razorbacks’ coach Mike Neighbors has seen his team come up short too often this year in close games, but that paid off with win Thursday night.
