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Arkansas falls in weekend finalè to South Carolina on Sunday, 4-0

FAYETTEVILLE — The No. 44 Arkansas women’s tennis team was shutout by No. 9 South Carolina, 4-0, on Sunday afternoon at the Dills Indoor Courts.

The Razorbacks (7-8, 0-4) dropped the doubles point to the Gamecocks (9-2, 4-0) with losses on courts two and three, while Lauren Alter & Tatum Rice were tied at 5-5 in a 40-40 set on the first court when South Carolina clinched the point.

Martina Zerulo and Thea Rice along with Miruna Tudor and Jackie Carr both suffered 6-4 decisions on courts two and three, respectively.

Laura Rijkers fell in the first singles finish of the day 6-3, 6-2 on court three. Lauren Alter battled to a 6-4 score in the first set, then dropped a 6-2 set two on the fifth court, while Jackie Carr lost on court four 6-3, 0-6 to give the Gamecocks the victory.

Three matches were left unfinished by Martina Zerulo (court one), Tatum Rice (court two) and Miruna Tudor (court six).

The Razorbacks will be back in action on Friday, March 15, against Missouri at 3 p.m. at the George Billingsley Tennis Center.

For more information on Arkansas women’s tennis, follow @RazorbackWTEN on Twitter.

No. 9 South Carolina 4, No. 44 Arkansas 0

Doubles Results – Order of Finish (2,3)

  1. Lauren Alter/Tatum Rice (ARK) vs. No. 7 Mia Horvit/Ingrid Martins (SC) 5-5 (unfinished)
  2. Paige Cline/Silvia Chinellato (SC) def. Martina Zerulo/Thea Rice (ARK) 6-4
  3. Kennedy Wicker/Megan Davies (SC) def. Miruna Tudor/Jackie Carr (ARK0 6-4

Singles Results – Order of Finish (3,5,4)

  1. Martina Zerulo (ARK) vs. No. 9 Ingrid Martins (SC) 5-7, 0-3 (unfinished)
  2. Tatum Rice (ARK) vs. No. 49 Paige Cline (SC) 6-7 (5-7), 2-1 (unfinished)
  3. Mia Horvit (SC) def. Laura Rijkers (ARK) 6-3, 6-2
  4. Megan Davies (SC) def. Jackie Carr (ARK) 6-3, 0-6
  5. Silvia Chinellato (SC) def. Lauren Alter (ARK) 6-4, 6-2
  6. Miruna Tudor (ARK) vs. Rachel Rohrabacher (SC) 2-6, 3-3 (unfinished)

Mississippi State too strong for Razorbacks in title game loss Sunday

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Arkansas’ amazing SEC Tournament run came to an end Sunday falling to No. 5 Mississippi State, 101-70, in the finals at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

Chelsea Dungee earned Southeastern Conference All-Tournament Team honors setting a record with 103 points in tourney play.

She is one of only two Razorbacks (20-14) to ever earn SEC All-Tournament Team honors joining Shameka Christon who was selected twice (2002, 2003).

Dungee dropped in 24 points in the title game and junior Alexis Tolefree also scored in double figures with 10 points.

Although it was Arkansas’ fourth game in as many days while State was playing for just the second time, the Razorbacks knew they needed a flawless effort and a little help from the Bulldogs (30-2) to get the win.

Coach Mike Neighbors’ team had the effort and energy but couldn’t overcome a nearly perfect Mississippi State team who shot better than 70% in the first half and 62.5% for the game.

The Razorbacks await word of a possible postseason selection with tournament brackets announced on Monday, March 18.

Notes

• Arkansas Starters: Alexis Tolefree, Malica Monk, Kiara Williams, Jailyn Mason, Chelsea Dungee

• It is Arkansas’ first-ever trip to the SEC Tournament finals

• Arkansas (10 Seed) is the lowest seeded team to ever reach the SEC Tournament finals

• Chelsea Dungee earned SEC All-Tournament Team honors. She is just the second player to earn all-tournament honors in program history (Shameka Christon, 2002 and 2003)

• Chelsea Dungee scored 24 points in the game and 103 in the tournament setting the record for most points by an individual in the Tournament. The previous record was held by Shelia Collins (Tennessee, 1985)

• Jailyn Mason had two 3-point field goals in the game and 13 for the week tying the SEC Tournament record held by Betsy Harris of Alabama in 1993. Mason was 13-for-24 shooting .542 from distance in the tournament.

• Alexis Tolefree had 10 points and finished the week going 10-30 from distance.

Blair recapping loss to Arkansas, coached by close friend, former assistant

Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors was director of operations for Aggies coach Gary Blair years ago in Fayetteville, but it was the assistant who will be going to SEC Championship Game on Sunday after Hogs’ win.

Harter on winning national championship starting with first event

Razorbacks coach Lance Harter after a fast start “snowballed” into another national indoor championship on Saturday.

Neighbors, Dungee, Mason on Hogs advancing to SEC title game

Arkansas advanced Saturday to the Women’s SEC Championship Game for the first time in program history with a win over Texas A&M and coach Mike Neighbors joined by players Chelsea Dungee and Jailyn Mason talked about it with the media later.

Gafford talking about eye-popping final home game in win over Tide

Daniel Gafford (29 points, 16 rebounds) with the media after the Hogs’ 82-70 win over Alabama on Saturday night along with Isaiah Joe (15 points, 6 rebounds).

Johnson has praise for Gafford, Joe after failing to beat Arkansas again

Alabama coach Avery Johnson has never beaten the Razorbacks and he didn’t Saturday as the Crimson Tide couldn’t stop Daniel Gafford in the 82-70 loss.

Anderson on Gafford ‘taking it to another level’ in win over Alabama on Saturday

Razorbacks coach Mike Anderson talked about Daniel Gafford’s big night and how he “had another gear,” plus his team’s defensive improvement keying recent wins.

Whaley, Hicks with media after Arkansas’ long scrimmage in stadium

Hogs running back Devwah Whaley, who broke a long run early in Saturday’s scrimmage, along with quarterback Ben Hicks on the offense’s performance.

Craddock on good things offense did in windy scrimmage Saturday

Razorbacks offensive coordinator Joe Craddock talked after the long scrimmage which he later termed a pretty good day in bright, sunny conditions with an extremely high wind.

Chavis not pleased with two big runs given up early in scrimmage

Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis talked after Saturday’s lengthy scrimmage and was not pleased with the big runs on the opening drive, but felt they corrected it as the practice continued.