Photos, recap of Hogs getting back into win column with big win over Florida
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas got back into the win column on Sunday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena, beating Florida on Sunday, 79-57.
The Hogs won what was a closely contested game by putting on a clinic in the fourth period, outscoring the Gators, 25-10.
Freshman guard Makayla Daniels led the way for Arkansas in her best performance of the conference season so far, going for a game-high 19 points.
Four other Razorbacks joined Daniels in double-figures: Taylah Thomas (13), Amber Ramirez (12), A’Tyanna Gaulden (12) and Alexis Tolefree (10).
Turning point
Arkansas got off to a hot start in this one, outscoring the Gators 26-13 in the first frame.
Gaulden was sensational in the first, as she scored seven points and dished two assists to provide the spark to separate the teams.
However, the Gators climbed back into this one, chipping away in both the second and third quarters, cutting the Hog lead to as little as five late in the third quarter.
Daniels quickly put an end to that, scoring the first 10 points of the final period to put the game on ice. The Hogs would lead 64-49 by the time her 10-0 solo run was done.
Hog highlights
• Daniels became the first freshman Hog to score 19+ in a conference game since Aaliyah Wilson had 20 against Texas A&M in 2017 (1/11/17).
• Daniels also had four steals, leading the squad. It was her third game this season with 4+ steals.
• Gaulden was again lethal dishing the ball, going for five more assists. It was her sixth game this season with 5+ assists.
• In addition to her 13 points, Thomas snared seven rebounds to lead the Hogs.
• Erynn Barnum continues to play well, going for six points and three rejections.
Next game
The Razorbacks hit the road, as the Hogs will head to Tuscaloosa for a date with Alabama on Thursday.
That game is set to tipoff at 7 p.m. and will be streamable on SECN+.
Information from Razorback Sports Information is included in this story.
Arkansas women’s tennis drops first match against Pepperdine on Sunday
MALIBU, Calif. — Arkansas women’s tennis team (2-1) fell to No. 6 Pepperdine on Sunday afternoon at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center, 1-4 in the ITA Kickoff.
Doubles
Martina Zerulo and Jackie Carr changed the momentum for the Hogs in doubles action after the Waves took the first match.
Zerulo and Carr jumped out to an early lead before holding on for a 6-3 win over Anatasia Iamachkin and Astrid Olsen to even doubles at 1-1.
The doubles point came down to Arkansas’ No. 34 ranked duo of Lauren Alter and Tatum Rice against Ashley Lahey and Jessica Failla in the No. 1 spot.
Alter and Rice trailed 3-1 midway through the set but had a phenomenal response, rallying for a 6-4 win to claim the doubles point for the Razorbacks.
Thea Rice and Laura Rijkers were the lone Arkansas pair to drop a match, taking a 6-2 loss against Daria Kuczer and Lisa Zaar.
Singles
In singles, Arkansas fell on four courts leaving two matches unfinished. Tatum Rice was defeated by No. 1 Lahey on court one 6-3, 6-2.
Pepperdine’s Olsen beat Alter in two sets 6-2, 6-0 and Carr was defeated on court three by No. 62 Iamachkine, 6-3, 6-2.
Laura Rijkers put up a fight in a 7-5 first-set loss before falling 6-1 in the second set on court six to No. 90 Kuczer to end the match.
Up next
The Razorbacks will be back on the court facing rival Oklahoma State on Friday, Jan. 31 in Stillwater, Okla.
Singles competition
1. No. 1 Lahey, Ashley (PEPPW) def. Tatum Rice (ARK) 6-3, 6-2
2. No. 50 Failla, Jessica (PEPPW) vs. No. 122 Martina Zerulo (ARK) 7-5, 3-3, unfinished
3. No. 62 Iamachkine,Anastasia (PEPPW) def. No. 109 Jackie Carr (ARK) 6-3, 6-2
4. Olsen, Astrid (PEPPW) def. Lauren Alter (ARK) 6-2, 6-0
5. Zaar, Lisa (PEPPW) vs. Kelly Keller (ARK) 6-1, 5-4, unfinished
6. No. 90 Kuczer, Daria (PEPPW) def. Laura Rijkers (ARK) 7-5, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. No. 34 Tatum Rice/Lauren Alter (ARK) def. Lahey, Ashley/Failla, Jessica (PEPPW) 6-4
2. Martina Zerulo/Jackie Carr (ARK) def. Iamachkine,Anastasia/Olsen, Astrid (PEPPW) 6-3
3. Kuczer, Daria/Zaar, Lisa (PEPPW) def. Thea Rice/Laura Rijkers (ARK) 6-2
Match notes
Arkansas Razorbacks 2-0
PEPP 1-0; National ranking No. 6
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,1,3,6)
Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.
Middle Tennessee downs Razorbacks in dual match Sunday afternoon
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas fell to Middle Tennessee on Sunday afternoon at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center, 4-2.
After dropping the doubles point, Alex Reco got the Hogs on the board with a 6-3, 6-2 win at the No. 2 spot over Stijn Slump.
Reco compiled three singles wins on the weekend, taking 37 sets while dropping only 16. Nico Rousset also earned a point for the Razorbacks as he battled to a 6-4, 7-5 straight set win over Max Rauch at No. 4 singles.
It was also the junior’s second straight-set win over the last two days.
The Razorbacks will be back at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center for a pair of matches against Baylor and Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 1.
First serve against BU is set for 1:00 p.m. CT while start time for Omaha is TBA.
Doubles results
• No. 1| Verboven/Paya (Ark) vs. Motl/Slump (MTSU), 5-3 (uf)
• No. 2 | Edge/Moonen (MTSU) def. Reco/Rousset (Ark), 6-4
• No. 3 | Stormon/Rauch (MTSU) def. Manuel/Alonso (Ark), 6-2
Singles results
• No. 1 | Tom Moonen (MTSU) def. Maxim Verboven (Ark), 6-2, 3-6, 7-5
• No. 2 | Alex Reco (Ark) def. Stijn Slump (MTSU), 6-3, 6-2
• No. 3 | Chris Edge (MTSU) def. Jose Dominguez Alonso (Ark), 6-1, 6-2
• No. 4 | Nico Rousset (Ark) def. Max Rauch (MTSU), 6-4, 7-5
• No. 5 | Francisco Rocha (MTSU) def. Melvin Manuel (Ark), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
• No. 6 | Enrique Paya (Ark) vs. Pavel Motl (MTSU), 7-6 (7-3), 3-4 (uf)
Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.
Neighbors on Hogs bouncing back from bad loss to dominate Florida on Sunday
Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors talked about the win, getting a technical he said he deserved and how the team handled the news of Kobe Bryant’s death just before game time.
Gaulden, Daniels, recapping how Gators’ defense left openings for Hogs’ offense
Razorbacks A’Tyanna Gaulden (12 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds) and Makayla Daniels (19 points, 2 assists) after win over Florida on Sunday afternoon.
Newbauer on Gators not being able to stop Razorbacks in loss Sunday
Florida coach Cam Newbauer talked after the 79-57 loss to Arkansas about not being able to contain the Hogs’ offensive weapons.
Musselman listens to dog, but proves again he knows how to win games
After back-to-back SEC losses, Arkansas fans weren’t quite ready to leap off the Mussbus, but some were starting to squirm.
A lot of that changed Saturday in front of a nearly-packed Bud Walton Arena as Eric Musselman gave everyone another sign he knows a thing or two about coaching a basketball team.
“It was our best game of the year on both sides of the ball,” Musselman said after the 78-67 win over a pretty good TCU team.
Considering that Musselman consults with his dog, Swish, every morning you wonder if other coaches may start talking to them more frequently.
Don’t worry about it. The only problem there is if they start blaming the dog.
The Razorbacks lost a game to Kentucky a week ago they at least had a chance of winning before collapsing late. Then they dropped a road game against Mississippi State on Wednesday.
With second-leading scorer Isaiah Joe out for this game after tweaking his knee in the second half at Starkville, it was normal for folks to be a little concerned.
Instead they beat a pretty good TCU team a lot easier than anybody expected as Mason Jones found a way to score, Desi Sills started hitting three-pointers and Jimmy Whitt, Jr., played one of the best defensive games seen in Fayetteville in awhile.
Whitt face-guarded TCU’s Desmond Bane the entire game and held the second-leading scorer in the Big 12 (averaging 17.2 points a game) to just 8, six of those coming on back-to-back 3-pointers to start the second half.
“He’s one of the best defenders I’ve ever seen at the collegiate level,” Musselman said later.
That was the end of non-conference games that included road wins over three Power 5 teams, Indiana, Georgia Tech and the Horned Frogs.
“We were awesome,” was how Musselman described the Hogs’ in non-conference games. They only dropped a road game against Western Kentucky. “Now we’ll see what we do in our own conference.”
Arkansas led by as many as seven in the first half and took a four-point lead at the break, 33-29.
Jones, who only scored one point in the first half, opened the second half with a 3-pointer and Whitt had a layup to push the lead to nine.
TCU cut the Hogs’ lead to three twice over the next minute-and-a-half before Reggie Chaney reeled off six straight points for the Razorbacks to regain a 9-point lead (46-37 with 16:09 left).
The Horned Frogs hung around until a technical foul was called on TCU coach Jamie Dixon. From that point, the Razorbacks turned a five-point game (51-46 with 10 minutes left) into a 15-point game (63-48 with 7:53 left) and held on for the win.
“I only yelled ‘carry,'” Dixon said later, clearly miffed at the technical call. “That was it.”
First half notes
• TCU scored the game’s first four points. Arkansas rallied to tie the game at 6-6.
• The first 17 minutes featured four ties and three lead changes. The last lead change was a 6-0 Razorback run for a seven-point (24-17) lead at 5:04.
• Whitt led the Hogs with 12 first-half points (5-of-8)
• Sills added 11 off the bench (4-of-5 field goals, including 2-of-2 on 3-pointers to halt a dry spell behind the arc).
Second half notes
• Arkansas scored the first five points of the second half on a Jones’ 3-pointer and a jumper by Whitt jumper to go up nine, 38-29.
• Jones scored 19 of his 20 points in the first half.
Game notes
• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Jimmy Whitt (G) – Jalen Harris (G) – Mason Jones (G) – Adrio Bailey (F) – Reggie Chaney (F) for the first time this season. It was the third different starting lineup Arkansas has used this season.
“I had a great walk this morning with my dog, and Swish told me to stick [Harris] in there and bring Desi off the bench and start Reggie,” Musselman said later. “I listened to my dog so it worked out well tonight.”
• Arkansas won the tip for the 10th time in 19 games this season. Arkansas is 8-2 in such games.
• TCU’s Kevin Samuel scored the first points of the game, a put-back at 19:16. Jalen Harris scored Arkansas’ first points, a 3-pointer at 18:20. It was his first time to score the team’s first points this season.
• TCU is one of Arkansas’ oldest rivals. The Horned Frogs are one of three teams on the Razorbacks’ schedule in 1923-24, the program’s first year of basketball. Arkansas is now 105-38 versus TCU, including a 55-15 mark in Fayetteville.
• Arkansas played in its sixth consecutive Big 12/SEC Challenge. The Razorbacks are 3-3 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge with wins over Texas Tech (2016), Oklahoma State (2018) and TCU (2020) at home. Arkansas lost at Iowa State (2015), at Oklahoma State (2017) and at Texas Tech (2019).
• Both teams attempted 50 field goals, Arkansas made 27 shots and TCU 24. Both teams made six 3-pointers.
• This was the third game Arkansas shot over 50% from the field (54%.).
• Arkansas’ 14 assists were its most since Valpo (Dec. 21).
• TCU’s 19 turnovers were the most by an opponent since Austin Peay (Dec. 3).
• Sills’ 18 points were his second-best career effort.
• Whitt played all 40 minutes for the second time this season and he has played at least 44 in Arkansas’ two overtime times. Whitt played all 40 minutes at LSU to become the first Razorbacks to play all 40 minutes in a regulation game since 2009.
• Whitt has scored in double-digits in seven straight, including 22 points at LSU, 30 versus Vanderbilt and 20 at Mississippi State.
• In addition to Whitt’s 20 points, the graduate senior was impressive guarding Bane. Bane entered the game averaging 17.2 ppg while averaging 6.3 shots made and 13.2 attempts. Bane also ranked 14th in the NCAA in 3-point shooting (44.1%). Whitt held Bane to just 3-of-6 shooting from the field (2-of-3 from 3-point range) and he scored just eight points – his third single-digit scoring output of the year.
• Chaney was 3-of-6 from the field He has made 19-of-his-last-23 shots from the field (82.6%).
Information, game notes from Razorback Sports Communications are included in this story.
Razorbacks’ women open 2020 season with win over Arizona
MALIBU, Calif. — Arkansas women’s tennis defeated Arizona, 5-2, Saturday at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center to advance to the championship against No.6 Pepperdine at 3 p.m. tomorrow.
Doubles
The Razorbacks wasted no time capturing the doubles point beginning with the 34th-ranked duo of Lauren Alter and Tatum Rice.
The pair defeated Kayla Wilkins and Kristen Prelle 6-3 in the No.1 spot. Thea Rice and Laura Rijkers followed suit, clinching the doubles point 6-3 over Talya Zandberg and Abby Amos.
Martina Zerulo and Jackie Carr lost their doubles match in the No. 2 spot to Khim Iglupas and Gitte Heynemans 6-4.
Singles
In singles, Zerulo won the first point for Arkansas, taking both sets 6-3, 6-2 over Prelle on court two.
Freshman Kelly Keller took a 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) battle over the Wildcats’ Marie Van Aelst to give the Hogs a 3-1 advantage. On court one, Tatum Rice was defeated in two sets by Zandberg 6-3, 6-4. Alter was defeated by Iglupas, in a nail-biter match of 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
Carr was next to sweep both sets 6-4, 6-4 against Amos, but it was Rijkers on court six, who clinched the match against Wilkins in a tie breaker 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to lead the Hogs to a 5-2 victory.
Up next
The Razorbacks will be back on the courts on Sunday at 3 p.m. against Pepperdine.
Box Scores
Doubles Competition
1. Tatum Rice/Lauren Alter (ARK) def. Wilkins, Kayla/Prelle, Kirsten (ARIZ) 6-3
2. Iglupas, Khim/Heynemans, Gitte (ARIZ) def. Martina Zerulo/Jackie Carr (ARK) 6-3
3. Thea Rice/Laura Rijkers (ARK) def. Zandberg, Talya/Amos, Abby (ARIZ) 6-3
Singles Competition
1. Zandberg, Talya (ARIZ) def. Tatum Rice (ARK) 6-3, 6-4
2. Martina Zerulo (ARK) def. Prelle, Kirsten (ARIZ) 6-3, 6-2
3. Jackie Carr (ARK) vs. Amos, Abby (ARIZ) 6-4, 6-4
4. Iglupas, Khim (ARIZ) def. Lauren Alter (ARK) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
5. Kelly Keller (ARK) def. Van Aelst, Marie (ARIZ) 6-3, 7-6 (8-6)
6. Laura Rijkers (ARK) def. Wilkins, Kayla (ARIZ) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Match Notes:
Arizona 0-1
Arkansas Razorbacks 1-0
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,1,5,4,6)
Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.
Hogs fall in dual meet to 11th-ranked Aggies despite Hopkins’ strong outing
COLLEGE STATION, Texas. — Arkansas fell to SEC foe No.11 Texas A&M, 162-130, Saturday afternoon inside the Student Recreation Center Natatorium.
Top Razorbacks
Sprinter Anna Hopkin ended the meet with three first-place finishes and a NCAA ‘B’ cut. The first victory for Hopkin was in the 50 free (22.42).
Her second showing was in the 100 free, touching the wall at 49.01 to earn herself a NCAA ‘B’ cut time.
Hopkin closed out the meet with teammates Emma Hultquist, Kobie Melton and Molly Moore taking the 400 free relay by over three seconds.
Peyton Palsha had a strong meet, earning podium finishes in all of her events. The distance swimmer started off the meet claiming a second-place finish in the 1650 free finishing the race at 16:58.29.
She then swam the 500 free, finishing the event at 4:54.29 to finish first. She capped her day shortly after, snagging a second-place finish in the 400 IM (4:26.35).
Vanessa Herrmann added points for the Razorbacks with a second-place finish in the 200 breast (2:19.64) and a third-place finish in the 400 IM (4:28.32).
Estilla Mosena was the sole diver to obtain any podium finishes for the Razorbacks. The Trieste, Italy, native earned two first-place finishes for the Razorbacks in the 3-meter (287.93) and the 1-meter (337.05).
Quotables
Arkansas coach Neil Harper
“We came here to compete against the four-time defending SEC Champions and won six events. It was always going to be a challenge especially a second day on the road. We displayed pride, confidence and a belief in our hard work. Esti, Peyton and Anna led the way with five of our six wins, and we finished the meet with a relay win in a great time. Our team is right where we need to be, tired yet dedicated and patient to focus on preparing for SECs and NCAAs.”
Arkansas diving coach Dale Schultz
“Esti had an exceptional day on both boards. I am extremely excited about her progress. For Esti to be on the road and not have been in the Texas A&M facility prior to warming up today along with winning both events say a lot about her maturity as an athlete.”
Up next
The Razorbacks will be back in the pool Feb. 1 to face Kansas for their last dual meet of the 2019-20 season.
Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.
Razorbacks down Drake, but loss to Wichita State, but fall in long battle to ’Shockers
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas men’s tennis team (1-1) split two matches to open the spring on Saturday night at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center.
The Razorbacks downed Drake in their home opener, 4-1, but fell in a nearly four-hour battle to Wichita State, 4-3.
After dropping the doubles match to the Bulldogs, Arkansas put together four straight-set wins to capture the victory.
Freshman Melvin Manuel got the Razorbacks on the board in his first match in an Arkansas uniform, downing Reid Jarvis 6-0, 6-3. Enrique Paya and Nico Rousset followed it up with two quick wins at the No. 6 and No. 4 spots, respectively.
After winning a first set tiebreak, 7-4, Alex Reco cruised by Evan Fragistas in the second set, winning 6-1 to give Arkansas the victory.
Later in the day the Hogs looked to make a comeback attempt against the Shockers but ultimately fell in the final singles match by two games.
Reco and Paya won their second matches of the day as the two squads were tied up at two points apiece after three singles matches. Reco won 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 2 spot while Paya downed Alex Richards, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).
After Arkansas dropped the No. 4 spot, Maxim Verboven battled to a comeback win in the top spot over Murkel Dellien.
Verboven dropped the first set tie break (6-8) but was able to take the next sets 6-2 and 7-5 as the Razorbacks were tied at three with just one singles match to play.
In the last match Jose Dominguez Alonso picked up an 8-6 tiebreak win in the second set but his Shocker opponent, Elio Lago, won a break point and took the third set 7-5.
The Razorbacks will be back at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center tomorrow afternoon for a meeting with Middle Tennessee. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.
