NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Arkansas needed a big rally and some last-second heroics to pull out the 69-68 win over undefeated Wisconsin in the final game of the Challenge in Music City on Sunday.
Down one, 68-67, with 11 seconds to go, the Badgers took a timeout and advanced the ball to half-court. Redshirt sophomore A’Tyanna Gaulden tipped the in-bounds pass and pushed it ahead to senior Malica Monk who broke for the basket on the steal.
Monk laid it up and in, giving Arkansas a 69-68 lead with a little more than four seconds to play.
The Badgers again called timeout advancing the ball to half-court. They put it in play but stepped on the baseline on a drive to the basket. The turnover gave Arkansas the ball back and Wisconsin had to foul but the Razorbacks hung on for the win.
Redshirt sophomore Chelsea Dungee earned all-tournament team honors with a game-high 20 points including a 3-point field goal to tie the game at 54-all with just over six minutes to play. Dungee was 3-for-5 from distance and 7-for-10 from the line.
Junior Kiara Williams and Monk scored 13 points each while junior Jailyn Mason added 12 points, all in the second half comeback. Sophomore Taylah Thomas posted a season-best 12 rebounds allowing Arkansas to edge Wisconsin on the boards, 44-43.
Key Run
Arkansas trailed by as many as 15 points, 50-35, but finished the game on a 39-18 run for the win. Junior Jailyn Mason scored all 12 of her points in the second half, keying the comeback.
Notes
• Arkansas Starters: Alexis Tolefree, Malica Monk, Kiara Williams, Jailyn Mason, Chelsea Dungee
• The Razorbacks forced Wisconsin into five first quarter turnovers and did not have a turnover in that period. The Razorbacks finished with just 10 turnovers.
• Malica Monk had 13 points against Wisconsin and has 925 career points.
• Arkansas is 2-0 against Wisconsin with the only other meeting coming in the WNIT Championship in 1999.
• Chelsea Dungee has scored in double figures in every game (6) this season.
• Malica Monk has scored double figures in five of six games
Up Next
Arkansas returns home hosting Oral Roberts on Wednesday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m.
The Razorbacks go on the road traveling to Iowa State Dec. 2, as part of the Big 12-SEC Challenge.
