FAYETTEVILLE -- University of Arkansas junior Kiara Williams hit two free throws with 5.7 seconds left to secure the victory for the Razorbacks women over Big Ten foe Nebraska 84-80 on Tuesday night at Walton Arena.
Nebraska's Sam Haiby had a chance to tie the game with 10 seconds left, but she missed a layup, allowing Williams to come down with the rebound and get fouled.
Sophomore Chelsea Dungee scored 20 of her game-high 23 points in the second half, leading five Razorbacks with 10 or more points.
After making just two of their first 16 shots, Arkansas trailed 15-2 with 3:30 remaining in the first quarter. The Razorbacks closed the quarter on an 8-0 run, including back-to-back three-pointers from Dungee and Raven Northcross-Baker, to cut the lead to 15-10.
Arkansas Coach Mike Neighbors said Nebraska's superior size contributed to the early scoring slump, as the Cornhuskers were able to alter shots with 6-5 center Kate Cain in the middle.
"It took us a little time to get adjusted and start making some shots, but I thought our team was very resilient, especially after getting down 13 early," Neighbors said. "They found a way to battle back."
Arkansas (9-3) kept the momentum in the second quarter, tying the game 23-23 on Jailyn Mason's layup with 4:44 to play in the half.
Alexis Tolefree, who was 0 of 5 from the arc in the first half, sparked the Hogs on a 12-0 run early in the second half with consecutive three-pointers within 21 seconds to give Arkansas a 43-38 advantage.
Dungee's layup and free throw with 7:19 left gave the Razorbacks their largest lead at 66-57.
Nebraska went on an 8-0 run late in the game, taking an 80-79 lead on Haiby's free throw with 1:04 to play. Dungee's driving layup with 43 seconds left put the Hogs back up by a point. She then added a free throw for an 82-80 lead.
"It's always good to get the win, but when you can beat a Big Ten team, another Power 5 team, it always helps bump that RPI," Neighbors said. "I think we were 49th in the RPI this week, so that should bump us up. That's what excites us coaches."
Malica Monk finished with 16 points and 4 assists, while Tolefree added 13 and Mason scored 11. Williams finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Haiby led the Cornhuskers (5-6) with 16 points.
SUN BELT MEN
ARKANSAS STATE 71, MISSOURI STATE 63
Arkansas State University (5-6) shot only 34 percent from the floor Tuesday night, but the Red Wolves hit 9 of 20 three-pointers and 30 of 35 free throws to beat Missouri State at First National Bank Arena in Jonesboro.
The game was tied four times in the first half before the Red Wolves used a 12-0 run over 1:40 late in the half to pull away. Grantham Gillard started the run with a three-pointer from the left side with 2:46 left in the first half, and he ended it with another three-pointer with 65 seconds remaining. ASU led 35-24 at halftime and saw its lead cut to seven twice in the second half.
Marquis Eaton and Christian Willis added 13 points for the Red Wolves, who travel to Syracuse, N.Y., on Saturday to take on the Orange at the Carrier Dome. Keandre Cook led the Bears (4-7) with 18 points, and Tulio Da Silva added 14.
SWAC WOMEN
PHILANDER SMITH 53, ARK.-PINE BLUFF 48
Philander Smith College used a 9-0 run and a 14-0 run in the third quarter and start of the fourth to turn a 30-13 halftime deficit into a 53-48 victory over the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on Tuesday at H.O. Clemmons Arena in Pine Bluff.
Philander Smith (8-5) shot poorly in the first half, hitting just 5 of 32 shots (15.6 percent), but warmed up in the second half to hit 13 of 27 (48.2 percent). It was the exact opposite for UAPB, which hit 11 of 25 shots (44 percent) in the first half and 7 of 36 (19.4 percent) in the second half.
Briauna Mitchell led Philander Smith with 15 points, while Terralyn Dominick had 13 and Ineka Clark chipped in with 10. Noe'll Taylor scored a game-high 14 points in the loss for UAPB (2-4), and Shawntayla Harris added 10 points and 14 rebounds, including 10 on the defensive glass.
Sports on 12/19/2018