Strong third quarter, Ramirez, lift Hogs past Wake Forest at Beach Bubble

FORT MYERS, Fla. — No. 14 Arkansas beat Wake Forest), 98-82, Friday morning in Alico Arena, using a 56-point second half to pull away from the Demon Deacons.

That surge included a 37-point third quarter, the most points ever scored in a single frame by a Razorback team and coach Mike Neighbors later said it was one of the best quarters he’d ever seen a team have.

Redshirt senior guard Amber Ramirez bounced back in a big way for the Hogs, going for 22 points on nine of 11 shooting, including four of six from beyond the arc.

It was a bounce-back game for Ramires after hitting only one of 10 shots in her first game of the 2020-21 season. Sophomore guard Makayla Daniels once again scored in double figures, going for 18 points. She also led the team with five assists.

Turning point

Arkansas and Wake Forest were in a tight game all the way through halftime, as the Hogs took a narrow two point advantage into the intermission.

The Demon Deacons were playing well, shooting more 3’s (6) and free throws (6) than the Razorbacks did in the first half. The Hogs were also dealing with foul trouble, as Taylah Thomas, Destiny Slocum, and Ramirez all had two fouls, while Daniels had picked up three before the break.

However, the Hogs exploded in the third quarter, using a lightning-quick 9-0 run early in the frame to create some separation.

When all was said and done in the record-setting third quarter, the Hogs would turn a two-point halftime advantage into a 79-58 third quarter lead.

Hog highlights

• Redshirt senior guard Chelsea Dungee shot it well at the line against Wake Forest, making 10 of her 11 free throws attempted. It was the 10th time in her Arkansas’ career shooting 10 or more freebies.

• Thomas nearly double-doubled, going for 11 points and nine rebounds.

• Redshirt sophomore Erynn Barnum once again made an impact off the bench, going for 12 points, five rebounds and two blocks. It was the second time in her career scoring in double figures in back-to-back games.

• It was the fourth game of Daniels’ career going for five or more assists.

Next time out

The Razorbacks’ second game in Fort Myers comes against the host, Florida Gulf Coast. That game will tip at 1:30 and will be streamabale on FloHoops.

Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.