With a tight race in the middle of the SEC, Arkansas basketball needed a win Sunday to stronger heading into the last couple weeks of the regular season.
Done and done.
The Razorbacks outscored Missouri by 24 points in the second half en route to an 88-71 win over the Tigers in Columbia. The victory is Arkansas’ second straight after a two-game skid.
Amber Ramirez led the Hogs with 25 points on 8 of 15 shooting and 4 of 8 from 3-point range. Samara Spencer added 22, Sasha Goforth 18 and Jersey Wolfenbarger 12 in the win.
The win also helped give the Razorbacks some breathing room in the push for the NCAA Tournament as it lifted Arkansas to 16-8 and 6-5 in league play. Missouri fell to 16-9 and 5-7. Entering the game, Arkansas was a projected 8-seed in the Dance and Missouri a projected 9-seed.
The Hogs trailed by seven at the half, but outscored the Tigers 26-13 in the third quarter to take control. Their work on the glass was key, as they outrebounded Missouri by 12 and outscored the Tigers in the paint by 10. Wolfenbarger registered a double-double by grabbing 10 boards.
Arkansas continues on the road Thursday when it visits Gainesville for a matchup with Florida. The Gators are two games ahead of Arkansas in the standings.