Raven Northcross-Baker led the Razorbacks with 16 points Sunday in the 83-62 win over Vanderbilt and met with the media alongside Malica Monk.
Monk on Razorbacks’ bouncing back with big win over Vandy
Arkansas guard Malica Monk scored 15 points in the 83-62 win over the Commodores on Sunday afternoon and met with the media after the game.
Gymbacks pick up first road win of season in Arizona on Saturday
TUCSON, Ariz. — Tenth-ranked Arkansas picked up its first road win of the season at 18th-ranked Arizona, defeating the Wildcats by a score of 195.800-194.725.
The win marks the first road dual meet win for the Razorbacks since defeating Auburn on Feb. 3, 2017. The win gives the Razorbacks eight-consecutive victories over the Wildcats.
First Rotation: Arizona Vault: 48.800, Arkansas Bars: 48.675
All five Razorback scores scored between a 9.700 and 9.775 in the first rotation. Junior Jessica Yamzon led the Razorbacks off with a 9.750 that was followed by a pair of 9.700’s from sophomores Sophia Carter and Sydney Laird. Junior Michaela Burton led the Razorbacks with a 9.775 on the event as anchor and sophomore Sarah Shaffer posted a 9.750.
Second Rotation: Arkansas Vault: 49.150, Arizona Bars: 48.550
Arkansas rebounded on vault, posting a 49.150 on the event off of four scores of 9.800 or higher. Arkansas’ anchors in freshman Kennedy Hambrick and senior Sydney McGlone posted 9.875’s each. The scores are the Razorbacks’ highest on the event this season.
True freshman Amanda Elswick made her much anticipated debut in the third spot on vault. The Austin, Texas native recorded a 9.825 in her first collegiate routine. Shaffer followed Elswick with a 9.825 of her own. The Razorbacks did not score below a 9.750 on the event.
Hambrick and McGlone shared the event title on vault. It was the first of Hambrick’s career, and third-career vault title for McGlone.
Third Rotation: Arkansas Floor: 48.875 , Arizona Beam: 48.675
Arkansas got two scores of 9.800 or higher on the floor as Shaffer scored a 9.825 in the fifth spot. Arkansas’ anchor Carter remained steady on the event, posting a 9.875 after posting 9.950 last week against Oklahoma to take the event title. Hambrick continued her solid night, recording a 9.775 on the event.
Fourth Rotation: Arkansas Beam: 49.100, Arizona Floor: 48.700
Arkansas finished strong on beam. Carter led the Razorbacks with a 9.900 on the event, to take the event title, as beam All-American returned to form with a 9.875 of her own in the final rotation. Hambrick scored a 9.825 in the two spot, as she has scored a 9.800 or higher in 4-of-5 of her first collegiate routines. Shaffer and Burton ended the rotation with a pair of 9.750’s.
Shaffer posted a 39.150 to take the all-around title. Yamzon recorded a 39.075 in total.
Up Next
The Razorbacks hit the road for their first Southeastern Conference meet of the season in Lexington, Ky., against the Kentucky Wildcats.
The meet will be televised by the SEC Network and is slated to begin at 5 p.m.
Hogs fall short for second straight game despite Gafford’s 32 points
FAYETTEVILLE — Daniel Gafford scored a career-high 32 points, including a dunk to force overtime, but LSU hit a pair of 3-pointers to start the extra period and held on for a 94-88 victory Saturday evening at Bud Walton Arena.
For the second straight game, Arkansas came back from a double-digit deficit in the second half but ultimately would suffer a six-point loss. In fact, all five Razorback losses have come down to the wire this season with an average margin of defeat being 3.8 points.
With 9:19 left in the second half, Arkansas was down 12 (73-61). The Razorbacks went on a 12-0 run including five points from Gafford and a game-tying dunk by Reggie Chaney with 5:00 left in regulation.
LSU’s largest led inside the last five minutes of the second half was four points (81-77), but Mason Jones converted a layup on a steal from Chaney with 1:58 left and, after getting a stop on the defensive end, Arkansas tied the game at 81-81 on a Gafford dunk with 30 ticks left.
LSU got two shots to win it in regulation but could not convert to put the game in overtime.
Gafford started overtime with a layup, which was the Razorbacks’ only lead in the game. LSU erased its only deficit 30 seconds later on a Ja’vonte Smart 3-pointer.
Naz Reid, who was 4-of-4 from 3-point range, followed with a jumper beyond the arc. Gafford answered with a dunk and Isaiah Joe later made a free throw to get Arkansas to within three (89-86) with 1:36 left in overtime. However, that is as close as the Razorbacks could get.
In addition to Gafford’s 32 points, Mason Jones contributed 22 with six rebounds. Chaney bounced back strong to score tie his career high in both points (12) and steals (4) while blocking two shots.
Reid led Tigers with 27 points. Tremont Williams recorded a double-double as he scored 17 points and had 11 assists. Marion Taylor was 7-of-8 from the field and 6-6 from the free throw line in scoring 21 points.
Arkansas will hit the road for a pair of SEC road games. First, the Razorbacks will play at Tennessee on Tuesday (Jan. 15) at 6 pm on ESPN2. Arkansas will then travel to Ole Miss on Saturday (Jan. 19) with tip-off set for Noon on the SEC Network.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas 42 – LSU 50
• Arkansas was down seven early but Reggie Chaney went on a 6-0 run to get the Razorbacks to within one, 16-15. Chaney had a layup, a jumper and a fast break dunk off a steal.
• Arkansas could not get any closer as the Tigers made six 3-pointers, compared the Razorbacks’ one, in the first 20 minutes.
• Daniel Gafford had 16, first-half points and Reggie Chaney added 10, making all five shots from the field he attempted.
SECOND HALF: Arkansas shoots 54 percent from the field and held LSU to 38 percent shooting.
• LSU threatened to take complete control of the game but Adrio Bailey scored six points and had two rebounds in a two-minute span to keep the Tigers within striking distance with 11 minutes to left in regulation.
• After being down 12 with 9:19 left, Arkansas went on a 12-0 run over a 4:21 span to tie the game, 73-73. Tremont Williams ended the LSU drought with two free throws with 4:21 left.
• While Arkansas never led in regulation, the Razorbacks tied the game four times inside the final five minutes.
GAME NOTES:
• Prior to the game, Sidney Moncrief, member of the 2018 National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, presented the game ball and was honored during a timeout for his recent induction.
• Arkansas’ starters were Isaiah Joe (G) – Jalen Harris (G) – Mason Jones (G) – Adrio Bailey (F) – Daniel Gafford (F). This has been the starting lineup in 14 of Arkansas’ 15 games.
• LSU controlled the tip. LSU’s Naz Reid scored the first points of the game at 19:32. Mason Jones scored Arkansas’ first points on two free throws after a technical foul on LSU at 19:31.
• This was the 67th meeting between Arkansas and LSU. The Razorbacks own a 35-31 advantage in the series, including a 31-26 advantage in games since Arkansas joined the SEC in 1991-92. Arkansas is 19-8 in games played in Fayetteville.
• Arkansas dropped back-to-back home games for the first time since falling to Florida (Feb. 18) and Alabama (Feb. 23) in Coach Anderson’s first season.
• Despite the loss, Arkansas is 47-17 (73.4%) in SEC games played at Bud Walton Arena under head coach Mike Anderson. Also, Arkansas is an impressive 25-6 in Saturday SEC home games under head coach Mike Anderson.
• For the first time this season, Isaiah Joe did not make a 3-pointer, going 0-for-1. He entered the game as the SEC leader in both 3-pointers made and 3-point percentage.
• Desi Sills finished with five assists and zero turnovers.
Razorbacks sweep Rice, SMU in final regular season road contest
DALLAS — In its final road contest of the regular season, Arkansas earned wins over SMU and Rice in a double-dual hosted by the Mustangs.
The Hogs posted a 171-124 win over SMU and a 163-124 win over Rice.
In the 16 events of the meet, the Razorbacks won seven and earned 18 podium finishes. Junior Anna Hopkin led the team with three first-place finishes, while sophomores Peyton Palsha and Maha Amer recorded two.
Arkansas opened the meet strong, with Molly Moore, Sydney Angell, Kobie Melton, and Hopkin winning the 200 yard medley relay. The team continued to pull ahead of the Owls and Mustangs, with Amer sweeping the springboard events and Melton posting two second-place finishes.
“I thought we all competed well today,” coach Neil Harper said. “We all looked a little tired from our training tips and travel to Dallas, yet we kept a positive outlook and commitment to each other. The team depth and quality earned us two victories today and it’s a promising start to the second half of our season.
“We’re less than five weeks away from the SEC Championship, so our focus and technique in the pool and on the boards continue to take priority.”
The Hogs will return to the pool next week to host No. 25 Houston in the first of two final meets in the regular season.
Anderson recapping overtime loss to LSU at home Saturday
Arkansas coach Mike Anderson met with the media after dropping another game at Bud Walton on Saturday, this time 94-88 against the Tigers in overtime.
Gafford on big night, but not getting win against Tigers
Razorbacks’ Daniel Gafford scored a career-high 32 points, had seven rebounds and two blocks against LSU on Saturday, but it was enough in the Hogs’ 94-88 loss.
Reid, Smart, Wade talk about Saturday’s win over Razorbacks
LSU players Naz Reid and Ja’Vonte Smart along with coach Will Wade talked with the media after beating Arkansas at Bud Walton on Saturday, 94-88.
Chadwick, Jacobus post NCAA-best marks in season opener
FAYETTEVILLE — No. 1 Arkansas opened its 2019 campaign with a solid showing at the Arkansas Invitational Friday night at the Randal Tyson Indoor Track.
“It was a great opener,” said coach Lance Harter. “We were able to convince everyone that Christmas break is over. Our vaulters exceeded any expectations by anyone – which obviously there’s tremendous talent in that group.
“We had some fantastic performances in the 60-meters and the deuce (200-meters) that were a pleasant surprise. In the distances, we did some things that I think were more tactical than they were about time.
“All in all, I think our peers have chosen us to be No. 1 (in the rankings), today I think we acted like that.”
Arkansas had a handful of performances that will likely finish the weekend in the top-10 of the NCAA track & field rankings including the second-best vault in the world this year by Lexi Jacobus who cleared 4.49m (14-8.75) to take the women’s pole vault competition.
On the track, the Razorbacks were led by performances from Kiara Parker (60-meters), Payton Chadwick (200-meters), Tiana Wilson (400-meters), Meghan Underwood (800-meters), and Carina Viljoen (1-Mile), all of whom won their respective events Friday afternoon.
Of the aforementioned performances, Parker tied for the NCAA lead entering this weekend running 7.26 setting a new personal-best, while Chadwick’s time in the 200-meters would’ve led the nation entering today’s meet after she clocked a 23.35 in the one-lap race. Viljoen ran the fastest mile in Division I with her time of 4:47.11.
Arkansas had several freshmen make their Razorback debuts on the track Friday night.
“I think that some of them were a little bit glassy-eyed and surprised by the level of competition. I’ve been trying to portray to them ‘understand this was just an opener, you haven’t even seen the SEC teams yet,’” Harter said. “Some are going to be in for a rude awakening, others I think took care of business, and I think that it is going to be a journey that will be a week-to-week progression, otherwise they’re going to get left behind.”
The Razorback vaulters will be in action next week as they travel to Reno, Nev. for the USA Pole Vault Summit Jan. 18-19.
The rest of the team will take the week off to prepare for the Razorback Invitational on Jan. 25-26 at Randal Tyson Indoor Track.
Sullins’ record highlights opener at Arkansas Invitational on Friday
FAYETTEVILLE — Eighth-ranked Arkansas got the season started on the right foot at the Arkansas Invitational Friday night at the Randal Tyson Indoor Track.
“It was a great start for the team,” said coach Chris Bucknam. “It’s a long season and a long year, and this is the first step in heading towards our championship season. We got to see how guys responded after being away for Christmas break and got to see a lot of newcomers and freshman,” Bucknam said.
Arkansas’ Erich Sullins extended his own school record in the weight throw finishing with a best of 21.08m (69-2) that is currently No. 12 in the NCAA.
Roy Ejiakuekwu finished one one-hundredth of a second off his personal best at 60-meters with his time of 6.72.
Carl Elliot III took the top spot in the 60-meter hurdles running a PR of 7.89. The men’s 4×400-meter relay also picked up a win running a combined time of 3:14.27 to close out the meet.
“We got individual wins from Roy Ejiakuekwu, Carl Elliot III, and Kiernan Taylor as well as a school record throw from Erich Sullins in the weight throw,” said Bucknam. “Roy [Ejiakuekwu] was .01 off a PR, which is impressive in your first meet of the season, Carl [Elliot III] put together a great race his first time in a Razorback uniform, and Kieran Taylor got a big win in the 1,000-meters by a couple seconds.
“It’s a quick turnaround to the next meet. The season ramps up pretty quick, going from a rust buster in the Arkansas Invitational to a primetime meet on national television. We’re gonna be here in two weeks and we’re going to have to perform.
“There’ll be two weeks of practice to recover and improve. We usually get a few national qualifying marks at the Razorback Invitational. We’ll see some really good Power-5 teams there and it’ll be our first true test of the season.”
The Razorbacks will be off next week as they prepare to host the nationally televised Razorback Invitational Jan. 25-26 at Randal Tyson Indoor Track.
Hogs go to Dallas to face Rice, SMU in final road competition
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas closes out road competition this weekend, facing Rice and SMU in Dallas for a double-dual.
The Razorbacks are 2-3 in dual competition this season, splitting their last two meets in November. The team has competed in four invites since then, facing off against SEC foes No. 19 Missouri and No. 11 Georgia as well as other top-ranked programs.
Junior Anna Hopkin is among the leaders on the team, setting seven individual records and two team relay records in her first semester as a Razorback. The Preston, England, native has earned two NCAA ‘A’ cuts, qualifying her for the NCAA Championships in the 50 yard freestyle and 100 yard freestyle.
Freshman Kobie Melton is also making an impact early in her career in cardinal and white, setting two team relay records and qualifying for the Olympics Trials in the 50 meter freestyle.
In diving, sophomore Maha Amer and Brooke Schultz continue to perform impressively. Schultz swept the springboard events at the Georgia Diving Invite, with Amer taking third in the platform. Both Razorbacks have qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships in the springboard events, with Amer also qualifying in the platform.
Rice is 4-1 on the season in dual competition, with its lone loss coming against No. 8 Texas A&M. The Owls have faced just one other Power-5 program, defeating TCU in December. The Hogs are 2-0 against Rice, dominating the Owls 207-86 in 2013.
Host SMU is 4-2 in dual action, coming off a 1-1 weekend with a win over Loyola New Orleans and a loss to No. 8 Texas A&M. Arkansas is 3-7 against the Mustangs, holding a two-meet win-streak. In the last meeting between the teams, the Razorbacks earned a 149-83 victory.
Action at the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center is set for 11 a.m. Saturday morning.
