ATHENS, Ga. — Arkansas had four players in double figures and had a big run late in the game, but it wasn’t enough in a 93-83 loss to Georgia on Thursday.
Kiara Williams scored in double figures for the second consecutive game but the Razorbacks (16-11, 5-8 SEC) couldn’t counter Georgia’s (16-10, 7-6 SEC) early momentum and strong foul line shooting in the final frame.
Chelsea Dungee paced Arkansas with 18 points followed by 17 points from Alexis Tolefree. Williams had a season-best 15 points and added a team-best seven rebounds. A’Tyanna Gaulden tallied 12 points in 16 minutes of work for her third game of the season in double digits.
The pace of the game favored the Razorbacks early and the teams played through 12 lead changes and five ties in the first 20 minutes. Georgia, however, managed a late second quarter and early third frame run that put the Bulldogs up by 16 points around the five-minute mark of the second half.
Georgia then went cold offensively as Dungee and Gaulden heated up. Arkansas strung together a 9-0 run closing the gap to single digits, 59-52, forcing a Bulldog timeout.
Arkansas trimmed the Bulldog lead to four points twice in the fourth quarter and was as close as five points in the final minute. The Razorbacks had to foul as the clock wound down and Georgia was solid from the line going 9-for-14 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.
Notes
• Arkansas Starters: Alexis Tolefree, Malica Monk, Kiara Williams, Jailyn Mason, Chelsea Dungee
• There were 12 lead changes and five tie scores in the first half.
• Georgia led by 12 in the 2Q but Arkansas closed the gap to seven at the break — 45-38.
• Arkansas had five 3-point field goals in the first half and finished with seven in the game.
• Alexis Tolefree scored 17 points and was in double figures for the 13th time this year.
• Junior Kiara Williams has scored in double figures in eight games this year. Williams had a season-high 15 points.
• Chelsea Dungee finished with 18 points and has scored in double figures in 24 of 27 games.
• A’Tyanna Gaulden had 12 points for her third double-digit game of the year.
• Four players scored in double figures. It is the first game since Vanderbilt (1-13-19) that four Razorbacks have been in double digits.
Up Next
The Razorbacks return home for back-to-back home contests. They host Ole Miss on Sunday for Senior Day and welcome Missouri in the final regular season home game on Thursday.
Arkansas travels to Texas A&M March 3 as the regular season comes to a close.
