Razorbacks Edged Out; Fall to LSU, 79-76

BATON ROUGE, La. — Arkansas women’s basketball (17-4, 4-2 SEC) gave No. 3/4 LSU (19-0, 7-0 SEC) its biggest scare of the season, but the Razorbacks were edged, dropping the game, 79-76. Arkansas held a three-point lead with 3:21 left, but the Razorbacks were ruled out for the rest of the game. Five Razorbacks scored in double figures, led by Erynn Barnum’s 20 points and seven rebounds.

LSU wasted no time, starting the game on a 7-0 run in the first 59 seconds, forcing Arkansas to call a timeout. Chrissy Carr hit a 3-pointer out of timeout to put the Razorbacks on the board. LSU continued to stay hot on the field, making four of their next five shots, but Arkansas sparked a 7-0 run, which was initiated by a Barnum layup. Arkansas trailed 20-13 with 3:43 left in the first quarter. LSU was in a three-minute drought for 3.5 minutes, but came out after two free throws. After just over two minutes without a basket for Arkansas, Samara Spencer hit a 3-pointer to cut the Tiger’s lead to six. After one quarter, LSU led 22-16.

Carr made one of two free throws to start the second quarter, but Arkansas fell into a drought for more than three minutes as LSU went 7-0. Arkansas came out of that drought and scored its first basket of the quarter thanks to a third opportunity completed by a Jersey Wolfenbarger layup. At media timeout, LSU was leading 29-19. The bench continued to provide a big spark for the Razorbacks, as Maryam Dauda nailed a 3-pointer and Wolfenbarger drove to the basket for a lay-up to cut the deficit to 31-24 with 2:49 remaining in the half. After two free throws from Barnum, Arkansas trailed by five. LSU made a layup and went 5 of 6 from the free throw line, after a handful of Arkansas fouls, to extend their lead to 12 with 1:18 left in the half. Arkansas closed the half on a 4-0 run, courtesy of a Barnum layup on a steal and a Samara Spencer layup with seven seconds left. That Spencer basket was set up thanks to a rebound and an assist from Carr. Arkansas trailed 38-30 at halftime.

LSU delivered a layup to open the second half and Carr responded at the other end with his second triple of the night. LSU again extended its lead to double digits, but Arkansas went 4-0, as Makayla Daniels made his first field goal of the night with a jumper. With five minutes left in the third, Arkansas trailed 51-43 after Carr knocked down two free throws on an LSU technical foul. Two quick baskets from Dauda got the Razorbacks six back off the track, but after an LSU and -1, it was a 55-47 game with 3:30 left in the third. After a Barnum and -1, Arkansas cut the deficit to two, as Arkansas sailed a 10-4 run. LSU had two free throws late in the half, and the Tigers were up 61-57 after 30 minutes.

Barnum again cut LSU’s lead to two on a layup to start the final quarter, but LSU responded with one of their own. A triple from Carr cut the lead to one, but the Tigers responded with a layup, as Arkansas led 65-62 with 7:52 left in the game. A Barnum layup, to get him to 20 points, tied the game at 66, and on Arkansas’ next possession, Daniels hit a 3-pointer to give Arkansas their first lead of the night. , 69-66. LSU tied the game at the other end with a triple, and the game was 69 all with 5:51 remaining. Daniels put the Razorbacks back in the lead with another trey, but after a few field rallies, Arkansas led 74-73 with 2:59 left in the game. LSU regained the lead with a layup, as the Razorbacks were held off the scoreboard for three minutes. Arkansas came with a pair of empty possessions, and after two free throws from LSU, the Tigers led 77-74 with 16 seconds left in the game. Spencer fouled and made both free throws to close the Razorbacks, 77-76, with six seconds left. Arkansas failed to capture a field goal in the final 3:21 of the game, as Arkansas dropped a close one, 79-76, in front of a raucous crowd of 7,298.

PORK HIGHLIGHTS

Barnum led the way with 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks Spencer had 13 points, two rebounds and six assists. Her sixth assist helped her extend her season total to 97, which surpassed last year’s assist total (and led the team 2021-22) Carr had 12 points, while recording three 3 points Daniels recorded 11 points with 6 assists and four steals Dauda tied a career-high 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting while recording four rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 13 minutes off the bench Arkansas didn’t missed just one free throw, going 10 for 11 from the line for 90.9 percent

NEXT

The Razorbacks head to No. 1/1 South Carolina on Sunday, Jan. 22, to face the Gamecocks for an 8 p.m. caution from Colonial Life Arena. Coverage of the match will air on ESPN2.

MORE INFORMATION

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