Senior transfers Ricky Council (22 points) and Trevon Brazile (21) recapping 76-58 win over North Dakota State in opener.
Razorbacks start fast, keep going in win over Golden Lions to open season
PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Arkansas women’s basketball (1-0) took down sister school Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-1) on Monday night, 70-50, to kick off the 47th season of the program.
The Razorbacks took a 42-17 edge going into the locker room behind 52.6% shooting, and despite being outscored 33-28 in the second half, the team kicked off the season with a big 20-point win in an electric environment.
Four players reached double digits, led by Erynn Barnum’s 17 points.
Chrissy Carr delivered the Razorbacks their first basket of the 2022-23 season off a triple. UAPB went on a 4-0 run to take the lead, 6-5, just a little over three minutes into the game.
That lead was their only one of the game and was short-lived.
Saylor Poffenbarger responded with a 3-pointer followed by Barnum registering a basket off a steal. In a hard-fought defensive battle in the first quarter, Arkansas had the edge, 15-10.
UAPB did not score for over four minutes into the second quarter, allowing Arkansas to cruise to a 29-10 lead.
Another Poffenbarger 3-pointer and a Jersey Wolfenbarger layup helped the Razorbacks take a 37-14 edge with 2:32 left in the first half.
Barnum dominated in the second quarter with 10 of her 17 points coming in the frame. Arkansas held the Lions to just seven points in the second quarter, outscoring UAPB 27-7 in that quarter.
Arkansas came out of the locker room with a 42-17 advantage.
The Razorbacks kept the momentum in the beginning of the second half, getting to the foul line three times in the matter of 25 seconds
In the opening four minutes of the third quarter, Arkansas outscored the Lions, 14-6 to extend their lead to 33 points.
Samara Spencer delivered seven of her 15 points in the third quarter alone. After a Barnum layup off a turnover with 3:51 left in the third quarter, the Razorbacks found some trouble from the field.
The Razorbacks would be quieted from the field until 2:19 remaining in the game courtesy of a Maryam Dauda layup.
Arkansas at least got to the line in the fourth quarter, going 5-for-8 from the charity stripe.
Free throw shooting was a struggle in a loud, sold-out environment, as the Razorbacks shot 19-for-44 from the free throw line on Monday night.
Despite being outscored 15-9 in the fourth, Arkansas’ hot start was just what the team needed to start out the season 1-0.
Game Notes
- Barnum led the Razorbacks with 17 points and most likely her third career double-double, pending official statistics.
- Spencer picked up from where she left off during her SEC Freshman of the Year season. She tallied 15 points.
- Poffenbarger delivered in her well-anticipated Arkansas debut with 11 points.
- Carr opened up the season with 10 points to earn her 65th career double-digit scoring game.
Next Game
Arkansas will host Central Arkansas for its home opener on Friday\ at 10:30 a.m. The game serves as Arkansas’ Elementary Day, marking the first time since 2019 the Razorbacks will host this event.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Pig Trail Nation’s Mike Irwin reminds folks Hogs had chance to win Saturday
As bad as they played, Razorbacks had chance to win at end, LSU bringing lot of momentum to game Saturday.
Hogs will open season without Nick Smith on floor tonight
FAYETEVILLE, Ark. — All we know right now is Arkansas star freshman Nick Smith won’t be playing in tonight’s season opener against North Dakota State.
A press release from UA didn’t go into a lot of details.
“The freshman is going through right knee management and is being withheld for precautionary measures. There is no timetable on his return.”
Smith was Arkansas’ leading scorer during the team’s four-game foreign exhibition tour in August.
He had nine points, three rebounds and two assists in exhibition action against Rogers State and finished with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor at Texas.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus.
You can listen online at HitThatLine.com or on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home. On satellite on Sirius 111 or XM 191 or the Sirius XM app channel 962.
Saturday Down South’s Connor O’Gara looking at Hogs’ loss to Liberty
What he thought watching a mystifying loss to Liberty on Saturday plus looking at LSU coming to Fayetteville.
Halftime Pod Presented By Eastside Liquor- November 7, 2022
Surprise Loss to Liberty; Basketball Season Begins Today
Guests- Mike Irwin & Connor O’Gara
Razorbacks’ Sam Pittman on what went wrong against Liberty, facing LSU
What went wrong in 21-19 loss to Liberty and facing LSU that’s on a roll now after overtime win over Alabama.
Halftime is LIVE with Phil Elson, Matt Jones, Matty T plus Irwin, O’Gara
11:15 – Mike Irwin
1:15 – Connor O’Gara
Surprise Loss to Liberty; Basketball Season Begins Today
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Bud Light Next Morning Rush Podcast: Not a great weekend in Fayetteville
Tye, Tommy and Chuck on the loss to Liberty, basketball game tonight and SEC action this past weekend
The Gimme the HAWGS Chuck Podcast E26: Matt Jones on the loss to Liberty
Chuck and Matt discuss the loss to Liberty, first basketball game tonight and more!
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Hogs ready to start season of high expectations Monday night
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Year 100 for Arkansas officially starts Monday against North Dakota State in the season opener.
Tipoff is set for 7 pm at Bud Walton Arena and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus.
Also starting this week is year four of the Eric Musselman Live radio show.
The first two shows will be from Sassy’s Red House on College Avenue, then moving to Sassy’s Barbeque and Grille off Wedington.
Shows start at 7 p.m.
How to Watch-Listen
Who: No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks (0-0, 0-0 SEC) vs North Dakota State Bison (0-0, 0-0 Summit)
What: Arkansas’ season opener; Game 1 of Season 100
When: Monday, Nov. 7, – 7 p.m. at Nolan Richardson Court in Bud Walton Arena
Listen: Online at HitThatLine.com or on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home. On satellite on Sirius 111 or XM 191 or the Sirius XM app channel 962.
Game Notes
• Did you know, the season opener in year one for Razorback men’s basketball (1923-24) was played on Dec. 19 in Talequah, Okla., versus Northeastern State? Arkansas won, 19-13.
• Arkansas is 1-0 all-time versus North Dakota State. The Razorbacks defeated the Bison, 71-55, on Dec. 20, 2016, in Bud Walton Arena.
• Arkansas is 80-19 in season openers all-time and 89-10 in home openers.
• Arkansas has won 46 of the last 48 season openers dating back to 1974-75 with both losses coming on neutral courts. One was the 1994-95 opener when preseason #1 Arkansas fell to preseason #3 UMass (104-80) in the Tipoff Classic (Springfield, Mass.). The other was the 2018-19 season opener in El Paso versus Texas (77-73 in OT) in the ESPN Armed Forces Classic.
• Arkansas has won 48 straight home openers dating back to 1974-75.
• Arkansas is a perfect 29-0 in Bud Walton Arena for home openers.
• Eric Musselman is 7-0 in both home and season openers. Over the last six seasons, his season opener was also his home opener. In his first year as a collegiate head coach, Nevada opened the season with a win in Hawai’i and returned to Reno to win its home opener.
• For the second time in program history, Arkansas will play seven games in the month of November. The other time came in 2019-20, Musselman’s first year.
• Nov. 7 is the second-earliest season opener in school history. The earliest opener came in 2019-20 versus Rice on Nov. 5 in Coach Muss’ first year.
• Arkansas is 134-40 (.770) all-time in the month of November, including a 15-0 mark under Musselman.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
