After outgunning Florida in the second and third quarters, the Arkansas women’s basketball team surrendered a 10-point fourth-quarter lead Thursday night, falling to the Gators in Gainesville, 85-81.
Senior Makayla Daniels guided Arkansas’ offensive attack, dropping a game-high 26 points, including 5 of 6 from beyond the arc. Two of the Lady Razorbacks’ starting guards returned to their home state for the game, and each turned in impressive performances.
Freshman Taliah Scott, the SEC’s leading scorer this season, is from nearby Orange Park, and netted 20 points, with two rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Samara Spencer, from Fort Lauderdale, chipped in 13 for the Lady Razorbacks, with a game-high four assists and two steals.
Florida (12-9, 3-6 SEC) looked to take control of the game early, using an 11-0 run midway through the first quarter, while holding Arkansas scoreless for over three minutes, and taking a 22-13 lead.
The Razorbacks (17-8, 5-5 SEC) then erupted in the second quarter, scoring 35 points in the frame, and taking a 48-46 lead into the half. They converted 11-of-17 shots in the quarter, including 5-of-9 from the three-point line.
A jumper by Scott at the end of the third period gave Arkansas a 71-61 lead heading to the fourth.
The Gators began the final period on a 7-0 to cut the lead to three, knocking down a pair of early treys. The teams then battled back and fourth, with Arkansas taking a 76-73 lead with 5:55 remaining.
After a timeout, Florida scored 11 straight points, including a pair of steals and back-to-back layups. After a three-point play by Daniels and a layup by Spencer cut the lead to 82-81, the Lady Razorbacks would not score again in the final 2:01.
Sophomore Saylor Poffenbarger turned in another impressive double-double for Arkansas, scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
The Lady Razorbacks will return to the court on Monday, as they travel to Tennessee for a 6 p.m. tip, on the SEC Network.