UA women buoyed in spite of blowout

Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors applauds his players as a timeout is called in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018. Mississippi State won 111-69. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors applauds his players as a timeout is called in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018. Mississippi State won 111-69. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas women's basketball Coach Mike Neighbors was not disheartened after Thursday's 42-point loss at unbeaten Mississippi State.

The Razorbacks (10-5, 1-1 SEC) will look to bounce back when they host Alabama (11-4, 1-1) at 3 p.m. today at Walton Arena. They have not lost in eight home games this season and started SEC play with a hard-fought 73-72 victory over Ole Miss.

Alabama women at Arkansas

WHEN 3 p.m.

WHERE Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville

RECORDS Alabama 11-4 (1-1 SEC); Arkansas 10-5 (1-1 SEC)

SERIES Arkansas leads series 20-14.

RADIO KABZ-FM 103.7 in Little Rock; KQSM-FM 92.1 in Fayetteville; KFPW-AM 1230 and KFPW-FM 94.5 in Fort Smith; KURM-AM 790 and KURM-FM 100.3 in Rogers.

ONLINE ArkansasRazorbacks.…

TELEVISION SEC Network

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS

ARKANSAS

POS^NAME^HT.^YR.^PPG^RPG

G^Malica Monk^5-5^Jr.^16.3^3.5

G^Devin Cosper^5-10^Sr.^16.2^6.8

G^Jailyn Mason^5-9^So.^9.9^4.1

F^Bailey Zimmerman^6-0^Jr.^2.6^2.8

P^Kiara Williams^6-1^So.^7.9^7.8

COACH Mike Neighbors (10-5 in first season at Arkansas)

ALABAMA

POS^NAME^HT.^YR.^PPG^RPG

G^Jordan Lewis^5-7^So.^6.5^4.0

G^Hannah Cook^6-0^Sr.^11.1^4.7

G^Shaquera Wade^6-0^Jr.^5.3^4.2

F^Quanetria Bolton^6-0^Sr.^5.6^3.6

F^Ashley Williams^6-0^Sr.^10.7^6.6

COACH Kristy Curry (75-69 in five seasons at Alabama)

TEAM COMPARISON

Alabama^Arkansas

68.9^Points Scored Per Game^70.6

55.1^Points Allowed Per Game^68.5

43.1^Rebounds Per Game^41.5

14.6^Turnovers Per Game^12.3

.398^FG pct.^.379

.264^3-pt FG pct.^.300

.720^FT pct.^.659

CHALK TALK Arkansas has won six straight against Alabama, but it’s Mike Neighbors’ first game against the Crimson Tide as a head coach. … Alabama senior Hannah Cook, who is from Ozark, Mo., is averaging 11 points per game for the season and in Southeastern Conference play to lead the Crimson Tide. … Arkansas’ Devin Cosper and Malica Monk led the Razorbacks averaging 16 points per game, but Cosper is averaging 15.5 in SEC play while Monk is averaging just 10. … Kids 12-and-under get in free. … Tickets are $2 with a University of Arkansas faculty or staff ID. … The Razorbacks will be available on the court for post-game autographs.

— Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB

Neighbors even talked about feeling a sense of pride in his team that battled the undefeated No. 3 Bulldogs. Mississippi State shot 71 percent from the floor in the second half to expand on a 10-point halftime advantage, topping 100 points for the fourth time this season.

It was the second huge defeat absorbed by the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. The Razorbacks lost 89-43 at Arizona State before Christmas, but Neighbors said the margin was the only thing really similar to the game at Mississippi State.

"I didn't think we fought very hard down at Arizona State," Neighbors said. "This time I think we learned a lot more. We battled with them [Mississippi State] in the first half. We tried to make some adjustments at halftime. We knew they would. They had the better adjustments."

Victoria Vivians led all scorers with 29 points, but she had 15 in the third quarter when the Bulldogs blew the game open. They finished with all five starters in double figures.

Alabama has won seven of its past eight and has some size, which has given Arkansas problems this season. But Alabama's size is nothing like Mississippi State's 6-7 Teaira McCowan, who scored 18 points in 27 minutes on Thursday.

"They can hurt you inside-out. They've got a real good shooter," Neighbors said. "But I think size-wise and athleticism-wise it's a little better matchup for us. It's one of those games on paper you look at and you don't worry about being out-athleted at any spot."

Sophomore Jailyn Mason led Arkansas with 15 points against Mississippi State, and she is averaging 14 points per game in SEC play, up from a 9.9 season average. Neighbors uses the word steady to describe Mason.

"There's no up, no down, just consistent in her approach," Neighbors said.

Senior Hannah Cook, who is from Ozark, Mo., leads a balanced scoring attack for the Crimson Tide, averaging 11 points per game. Ashley Williams is averaging 10.7 ppg to go with a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game.

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Sports on 01/07/2018

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