Poffenbarger adds scoring to rebounding game in win over Mizzou

COLUMBIA, Mo. — On her mother, Amy Fordham’s (1990-94) Alumni Night at Missouri, Saylor Poffenbarger knocked down a career-high eight 3-pointers, one short of tying the school record to match a career-high 24 points to lead Arkansas to a 67-58 win over Missouri. The Razorbacks have now won 11 straight against the Tigers.

The Hogs (16-6, 4-3 SEC) pulled out the win over Missouri (11-10, 2-6 SEC) in a game that saw 14 lead changes and seven ties. The Hogs outscored the Tigers 18-10 in the fourth quarter, including a 9-2 run midway through the final frame to pull ahead for the win.

Maryam Dauda won the tip, which led to a Makayla Daniels 3-pointer, but Missouri responded with one of their own. Samara Spencer took it to the rack for back-to-back scores, but the Tigers drained their second triple of the game and took the lead with a layup.

The Razorbacks and Missouri exchanged 3-pointers, as Saylor Poffenbarger knocked down back-to-back triples. At the media timeout taken at the 4:26 mark, Arkansas led, 13-11. The Tigers closed out the quarter on a 7-0 run, while Arkansas fell in a scoring drought for nearly the final five minutes of the quarter. At the end of the first quarter, Arkansas trailed, 18-13.

Dauda was able to end the Hogs’ drought out of their first offensive possession with a 3-pointer in the second quarter. Back-to-back Poffenbarger 3-pointers pulled the Hogs back ahead with her third and fourth triples of the day.

Arkansas fell in an extended scoring drought, while a 5-0 run elevated the Tigers ahead, 25-22, at the media timeout at the 4:12 mark. Karley Johnson dragged Arkansas out of its four-minute scoring drought with a nice move to the basket for two, but Missouri had an answer with a triple. Arkansas went on a 5-0 run, as a Johnson 3-pointer, Arkansas’ seventh of the day, helped the Hogs retake the lead right before the half. Arkansas went into the locker room up, 29-28.

At the start of the third quarter, Missouri drained a 3-pointer for the 11th lead change of the game. After an intentional foul on Missouri, Spencer tied the game at 31 with two free throws. Poffenbarger then drained her fifth 3-pointer of the contest, a career-high, as Missouri called a timeout with Arkansas up, 34-31.

Missouri was in a scoring drought for over three minutes until they dragged out of it with a layup, but Daniels responded with one of her own. Arkansas and Missouri had an exchange of baskets and then the Tigers tied the game with a 3-pointer. Arkansas scored seconds later on the other end, as Spencer found Dauda under the basket.

After the seventh tie of the game, Missouri would then convert a 3-point play to lead by two, but off a second-chance opportunity, Jenna Lawrence beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer, as Arkansas led, 49-48, going into the final 10 minutes of the game.

Poffenbarger kept the heat firing from beyond the arc and opened the final quarter with her sixth triple of the game. The Tigers responded with their ninth 3-pointer, but Poffenbarger answered again with her seventh 3-pointer of the contest.

Moments later, Poffenbarger knocked down her eighth 3-pointer of the game, and Missouri took a timeout, 58-52, with 6:37 left in the game. While Missouri was in a scoring drought for over three minutes, Spencer took the ball to the rack for a layup. Missouri delivered a jumper, but Spencer answered immediately with a tough jumper and Daniels logged a layup, as Arkansas led, 64-54 with less than 2:47 left in the game.

Missouri broke the three-minute scoring drought with a jumper, as Arkansas was ahead by eight. As Missouri started fouling to stop the clock, Daniels broke Arkansas’ three-minute scoring drought by knocking down two free throws and Spencer made one of two to ice the game. Arkansas pulled out the 67-58 road win.

Razorbacks Game Notes

• Poffenbarger led the way by matching her career-high 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting from 3-point. She added nine tough rebounds, all on the defensive end, with two assists

• Her eight 3-pointers is tied for the second most in a game by a Razorback, matching Amber Ramirez (vs. Alabama on 2/28/2021), Lyndsay Harris (vs. Georgia on 1/13/2011) and Wendi Willits (vs. Oral Roberts (11/28/1996) who each had eight in a game

• Daniels registered 13 points, three rebounds and two steals

• Spencer recorded 13 points, six rebounds and six assists

• Dauda tallied seven points, four rebounds, two assists and four blocks

• Johnson played 34.5 minutes off the bench, logging seven points and three boards

• Lawrence delivered valuable minutes off the bench, splashing in a big 3-pointer at the buzzer of the third quarter and had three boards, two steals and one block

• Arkansas splashed in 12 3-pointers, the 12th time this season Arkansas has logged 10+ triples in a game

• The Hogs won its 11th straight victory against Missouri to elevate their series record vs. the Tigers to 22-12

Next Game

Arkansas will return to Bud Walton Arena for a two-game homestand, starting with Alabama on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.