Tolefree, Dungee pace Razorbacks past Auburn to start SEC Tournament

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Arkansas got a combination of 53 points from Alexis Tolefree and Chelsea Dungee and rolled over Auburn, 90-68, for a fast start in the SEC Tournament on Thursday afternoon.

They set a tournament record for the most three’s made in a game (17) and now have won at least one game in the tournament for the third year in a row for the first time since 2001-03.

For Tolefree, she nearly set the SEC record (8) for three’s by a single player, hitting seven on her way to her fourth-career 30-plus point performance. Dungee picked up right where she left off in last season’s SEC tournament, going for 23 points on an ultra efficient nine-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-8 from deep.

Game’s key point

Auburn got off to a hot start in this game, opening the game on an 8-0 run. It was the second time Arkansas got down early to the Tigers this season.

Tolefree kept the Hogs afloat in the first, scoring nine of the Hogs’ 11 first-quarter points.

The slow start didn’t last. Arkansas started to roll in the second quarter, winning the period 26-10. The hammer was dropped near the end of the first half, as the Hogs went on a 20-3 run.

Tolefree and Dungee did most of the damage in the period, scoring 18 combined points. Senior forward Kiara Williams also had six in the frame.

Game highlifhts

• Arkansas’ 17 three’s in the game matched a program record. The Hogs also made 17 earlier this season against Oral Roberts.

• The Hogs had 25 assists against the Tigers, the most as a team since they had 25 against Vanderbilt back in 2018.

• With her nine points against the Tigers, Amber Ramirez crossed the 1,000 point threshold. She now has 1,008 career points.

• Dungee’s five threes in the game matched a career-high.

• A’Tyanna Gaulden stuffed the stat sheet for the Hogs, scoring 4 points, dishing six assists and grabbing six rebounds.

• Rokia Doumbia also had a very well-rounded outing, going for six rebounds, five points and four assists.

Next game

The fifth-seeded Hogs move on to face fourth-seeded Texas A&M, a rematch of this season’s SEC opener.

That game will tip-off at approximately 1 p.m. and will air on the SEC Network.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

RAZORBACK FOOTBALL

Sat, Sep 5vs North AlabamaW 31-14
Sat, Sep 12@ UtahL, 43-10
Sat, Sep 19GeorgiaL, 45-17
Sat, Sep 26TulsaW 34-6
Sat, Oct 3@ Texas A&ML, 34-7
Sat, Oct 10TennesseeL, 24-17
Sat, Oct 17@ Vanderbilt6:00 PM
ESPN2
Sat, Oct 31vs MissouriTBA
Sat, Nov 7@ AuburnTBA
Sat, Nov 14South CarolinaTBA
Sat, Nov 21@ TexasTBA
Sat, Nov 28vs LSUTBA

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

OVERALLRecordPts
1.Shiloh Christian (11)6-01631
2.Conway (3)5-11413
3.Bentonville West (3)6-01302
4.Bentonville5-11194
5.Joe T. Robinson6-01025
6.Searcy6-0816
7.North Little Rock5-1587
8.Springdale Har-Ber4-2358
9.Sheridan6-0269
10.Greenwood4-22410
Others receiving votes: Bryant 15, LR Christian 10, Sylvan Hills 8, Fayetteville 5, Stuttgart 5, Mountain Home 4, Pulaski Academy 3, Farmington 2, Van Buren 2, Benton 1, Jacksonville 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Shiloh Christian (11)6-0771
2.Conway (3)5-1583
3.Bentonville West (3)6-0542
4.Bentonville5-1454
5.North Little Rock5-1125
Others receiving votes: Springdale Har-Ber 6, Bryant 2, LR Christian 1.
CLASS 6A
1.Searcy (16)6-0831
3.Sheridan (1)6-0573
4.Sylvan Hills4-233—
2.Benton3-3292
5.Mountain Home5-1285
Others receiving votes: Van Buren 14, El Dorado 10, Lake Hamilton 1.
CLASS 5A
1.Joe T. Robinson (16)6-0841
2.Greenwood (1)4-2612
3.Farmington6-0453
4.Jacksonville5-1414
5.Little Rock Parkview4-2185
Others receiving votes: Little Rock Mills 4, Greenbrier 1, Hot Springs Lakeside 1.
CLASS 4A
1.Stuttgart (13)6-0781
2.Nashville (2)6-0662
3.Gosnell (1)6-0433
4.Ozark (1)6-0324
5.Elkins5-1215
Others receiving votes: Gravette 7, Fountain Lake 3, Forrest City 2, Lonoke 1, Booneville 1, Arkadelphia 1.

CLASS 3A
1.Bismarck (10)5-1721
3.Mansfield (2)5-2553
2.Smackover5-139—
4.Walnut Ridge (3)5-1244t
Rivercrest5-122—
Others receiving votes: Atkins 17, Newport (1) 11, Fordyce (1) 11, Prescott 4.
CLASS 2A
1.Mount Ida (10)7-0721
2.Baptist Prep (6)6-0682
3.Marked Tree5-1343
4.Earle (1)5-128—
5.Gurdon4-2245
Others receiving votes: Bearden 14, Dierks 10, Bigelow 7, East Poinsett Co. 1.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Corning (9)6-0311t
2.Cedar Ridge (3)5-0241t
3.Magazine (1)5-0183
Others receiving votes: Izard County 4, Rose Bud 1.