Arkansas started fast, then had to hold off a bigger, stronger Mississippi State squad for an 86-80 win at Bud Walton Arena on Thursday night.
The Razorbacks (15-7, 5-6) downed the Bulldogs for the first time under Mike Neighbors in his four years. The Hogs have now beaten every SEC tam at least once since he took over the program.
Arkansas is also starting to get on a streak at the right time, winning four of five now.
Guards Destiny Slocum and Chelsea Dungee stole the show.
Slocum scored her most points as a Razorback, pouring in 26 on 11-15 shooting from the field. Despite suffering a left hand injury in the second half, Slocum remained in the game, and continued to keep the Hogs on track offensively.
Dungee meanwhile, joined the 2,000-point club in the fourth quarter, one of two Hogs ever to accomplish the feat, joining Arkansas LadyBack legend Bettye Fiscus.
The redshirt senior tallied 22 points in the effort, including 15 in the second half, not missing a single shot after the intermission.
Turning point
The Hogs got off to a fast start, grabbing a double-digit lead in the first quarter after Slocum exploded for 12 points in the opening frame.
The Razorbacks continued to keep the pressure on throughout the first half and gained a big edge at the free throw line, making all 11 attempts at the stripe in the first half while only allowing one MSU free throw attempt.
Arkansas came out of the locker room flat in the second half, as Mississippi State cut a 15-point deficit down to just two in the closing seconds of the third quarter.
But the Hogs answered the call in the fourth quarter, with Slocum and Dungee combining for 17 points in the game’s crucial moments.
It was Arkansas’s two leading scorers who notched the last eight points for the Hogs down the stretch.
Hogs highlights
• Dungee now has 2,004 points, needing just 70 more to pass Fiscus’ collegiate mark of 2,073.
• Slocum also led the Hogs in assists, dishing four of them.
• Sophomore guard Makayla Daniels notched three steals, a team-high.
• Amber Ramirez stayed hot, scoring 12 points on 5-7 shooting, including a perfect 2-2 mark from deep.
• Erynn Barnum and Taylah Thomas were big down-low for the Hogs, snatching 10 total boards while holding Bulldogs center Jessika Carter to just 11 points on the night.
• The Hogs shot 58 percent from the field as a team against the Bulldogs, the best mark for the Razorbacks in an SEC game since they shot a blistering 64 percent against Ole Miss last season (2-16-20).
Next game
Arkansas returns to Bud Walton Arena next Thursday to take on Ole Miss.
The Hogs and Rebels will tipoff at 7 p.m. and the game will stream on the SEC Network+.
