Tolefree’s 22 paces Razorbacks in closs loss to No. 22 Arizona State

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas junior Alexis Tolefree paced the Razorbacks in scoring for the third consecutive game, dropping in 22 points in an 88-85 loss to No. 22 Arizona State in Bud Walton Arena on Sunday night.

ASU led by as many as 10 points in the second half, but Arkansas kept battling back to keep the game close. The Sun Devils had a nine-point lead, 84-75, with 1:31 to go in the game but Chelsea Dungee drained a 3-pointer to close the gap. Dungee finished with 20 points in 24 minutes.

Junior Kiara Williams followed with a put back basket to close within four points, 84-80. Arkansas fouled on the defensive end, and ASU made just one of the bonus shots.

Senior Malica Monk grabbed the rebound on the miss and junior Jailyn Mason put in the fast-break layup making it a three-point game with 18 seconds to play.

Arkansas was forced to foul, and ASU made the next two free throws. Dungee finished with a layup off a missed shot for the final score.

Tolefree (22) and Dungee (20) were joined in double figures by Monk with 13 points and Mason with 11 points. Arkansas was at a significant height disadvantage and ASU outrebounded the Razorbacks 43-35. The Sun Devils scored 44 points in the paint and got 42 bench points.

Key Stat

Arkansas won the fourth quarter for the third game in a row. The Razorbacks outscored the Sun Devils, 23-19, in the final 10 minutes hitting nine shots from the floor including two of their six 3-pointers. Arkansas was 3-for-6 from the line in the final frame.

Notes

• Arkansas starters: Alexis Tolefree, Malica Monk, Kiara Williams, Jailyn Mason, Chelsea Dungee

• Arkansas is 1-2 against Arizona State. Arkansas lost to ASU in Arizona by 45 points last year.

• Arkansas took 29 of 32 first half shots before the shot clock reached 15 seconds.

Up Next

The Razorbacks hit the road taking part in the Music City Thanksgiving Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee, Nov. 23-25.

Arkansas faces Tennessee State, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin in consecutive games with 7:30 p.m. tips. The Razorbacks return home hosting Oral Roberts on Nov. 28.