First Half Dooms Razorbacks in Loss to Tennessee

FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas women’s basketball team (19-9, 6-7 SEC) could not get over a slow first half against Tennessee (19-9, 11-2 SEC), falling to the Lady Vols, 87-67. Arkansas was outscored 44-22 in the first half but won the second half with a 45-43 edge. The Razorbacks had the edge in paint points, 36-34, and limited turnovers to a season-low five, but was outrebounded 59 to 25. Erynn Barnum led the Razorbacks with 25 points.

Arkansas went 0-for-4 from the field, while Tennessee started the game with an early 7-0 lead. Barnum got the Razorbacks on the board with a layup, but the Lady Vols cruised on a 7-0 run to lead 14-2. Makayla Daniels broke the Razorbacks drought with a 3-point play, but Tennessee answered on the other end with a triple. Saylor Poffenbarger got her first points off a jumper and Arkansas trailed 17-7 with 3:49 remaining in the quarter. With Tennessee shooting 5-of-9 from beyond the arc in the first quarter, Tennessee led 25-9 after the first quarter.

Tennessee continued its hot shooting, starting the second quarter on a 4-0 run. Arkansas didn’t score a field goal for the first three minutes of the frame, but Samara Spencer splashed in the Razorbacks’ first 3-pointer of the game and Barnum followed with a layup to cut the lead by 17. Tennessee then made their next two field goals, including their sixth 3-pointer, and at the media timeout, Arkansas trailed 37-15. The Razorbacks had a tough time shooting the ball, being held in a scoring drought for nearly four minutes until Barnum came up with a hard-fought layup. Chrissy Carr knocked down a triple and Barnum followed with a layup set up by a Daniels steal and Samara Spencer assist. Arkansas went into the locker room down by 22, 44-22, at the half.

Arkansas began the quarter strong with a 5-0 run, thanks to Barnum free throws and a Carr 3-pointer, to cut the lead to 17.  The Razorbacks shot better in the second half, beginning the first five minutes 4-of-10 from the field, but Tennessee did not slow down, making 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions. After a Poffenbarger layup off a spin cycle, the Razorbacks were behind 56-38 with 4:21 left in the frame. Carr came up with a layup and got fouled in the process to convert the 3-point play, but Tennessee responded with two free throws to put their lead back to 19. Tennessee was held from getting a field goal for the remaining three minutes of the quarter but benefited from the free throw line by shooting six-for-eight in that time. Arkansas was down, 66-47, going into the final quarter of play.

Barnum made two layups to reach her ninth 20-point game of the year, but Tennessee could not miss, starting the fourth quarter shooting 5-of-7 from the field. Barnum knocked down a 3-pointer and Carr followed with her third triple of the night to initiate a 6-0 run. With 5:29 left in the game, Arkansas trailed 82-61. Emrie Ellis tallied the Razorbacks’ sixth triple of the game, as Arkansas trailed 84-64 with 3:23 left in the game. The Razorbacks won the second half, outscoring the Lady Vols, 45-43, but ultimately could not get over the slow start with the 87-67 loss.

HOG HIGHLIGHTS

• Barnum led Arkansas with 25 points, tallying 16 of her points in the second half. Shooting 10-of-17 from the field, Barnum reached her ninth 20-point game and 12th straight double digit scoring game of the season in 23 minutes
• Carr logged her third consecutive double digit scoring game with 14 points and three 3-pointers. Her three triples moves her up to No. 17 on the most 3-pointers scored in an individual season with 64
• Spencer logged a near double-double with 10 points and nine assists. Her nine dimes pushed her up to No. 12 for the most individual assists logged in a single season with 125 on the season. She also limited turnovers to just two and played 34 minutes of action
• Jersey Wolfenbarger had a number of hustle plays and stats not shown on the box score. She ended with four points and five boards
• Arkansas limited turnovers to just five, marking a season low

UP NEXT

Arkansas will hit the road to face Georgia on Sunday, Feb. 19 for an 11 a.m. CT tipoff. Coverage of that game is broadcast on SEC Network from Stegeman Coliseum.

MORE INFORMATION

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