Tag: Saylor Poffenbarger

Arkansas struggles in second half, falls on the road to Texas A&M

The Arkansas women’s got outscored by 16 in the second half in a 73-67 loss to Texas AQ&M.

Despite holding a 10-point lead at halftime on Thursday, the Arkansas women’s basketball team let off the gas after the break and fell to Texas A&M, 73-67, in College Station.

The Aggies (17-9, 6-7 SEC) outscored the Razorbacks (18-10, 6-7 SEC) in the second half, 53-37.

Junior Samara Spencer led all scorers with 24 points, including a clutch three-pointer late in the game, to give Arkansas it’s final lead, 65-64. But A&M finished the game on a 9-2 run to put it on ice.

After trailing 15-13 at the end of the first quarter, Arkansas began to heat up in the second, outscoring the Aggies 17-8, to take a 30-20 lead into the half.

Sophomore Maryam Dauda and senior Makayla Daniels opened the second half with back-to-back threes, but allowed the Aggies to answer both shots with layups on the other end. Texas A&M went on an 8-0 run to go up 36-32 with 7:15 left in the third.

A layup by Dauda, off an offensive board, tied the game at 41-41. After the Hogs took a two-point lead, the Aggies drained a three to end the quarter with a 49-48 advantage.

An 8-2 run to start the fourth period increased the Aggie lead to seven. A three from sophomore Saylor Poffenbarger, and a pair of Spencer free throws, kept the Razorbacks within four. Spencer hit a short jumper, then a triple, to give Arkansas its final lead with less than three minutes to play.

A&M scored the next six points to secure the path to victory.

Spencer went 9-of-18 from the field, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and 4-of-5 from the line, to record her sixth 20-point game of the season. She also registered three rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal.

Dauda netted 17 points, going 7-of-12 from the field and 2-of-3 from the arc, while tacking on six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and three steals. Daniels finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 39 minutes of action, while

Arkansas will next host Vanderbilt on Sunday for “Pack for Mak” to honor Daniels’ Senior Day, with a 2 p.m. tipoff on SECN+.

Dauda spurs on Razorbacks to 12th straight win over Mizzou

Sophomore Maryam Dauda scored a career-high 18 points Sunday, to lead the Lady Razorbacks to a win over border-rival Missouri.

Sophomore Maryam Dauda poured in a career-high 18 points, including 13 in the pivotal third quarter, as the Arkansas women’s basketball team toppled border-rival Missouri, 75-68, for their 12th straight win over the Lady Tigers.

The Bentonville product led five Razorbacks in double-digit scoring, as she knocked down 8 of 12 shots from the field, while adding five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal.

Arkansas (18-9, 6-6 SEC) went into the fourth quarter up by 20, but allowed Missouri to cut the lead to five with 24 seconds left in the game. Junior Samara Spencer and senior Makayla Daniels combined to hit 5-for-6 free throws in the final moments to preserve the victory.

The Tigers opened the game hot from the three-point line, sinking three of their first four from beyond the arc, and led 15-6 midway through the first period.

Sophomore Saylor Poffenbarger‘s layup sparked a 7-0 run for the Razorbacks, highlighted by a Dauda’s conventional three-point play, to cut the lead to two.

Sophomore Carly Keats opened the second quarter with a triple to give Arkansas its first lead of the game, and send the Hogs on a 13-0 run. Another Keats three put the Razorbacks in front 32-25 with just under seven minutes left in the first half.

Poffenbarger drained another three-pointer to spur a 6-0 run late in the half, as Arkansas outscored Missouri 25-11 in the quarter, and led 48-36 at the intermission. The 6-foot-2 Poffenbarger finished with her ninth double-double of the season, scoring 13 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.

The Razorbacks extended the margin to 64-44 heading into the final frame. But the Lady Tigers began to turn the tide, opening with a three, while Arkansas went cold on it’s first four possession of the period. Missouri (11-14, 2-10 SEC) outscored the Hogs 24-11 in the final 10 minutes, but Daniels scored five of her 14 points down the stretch to help preserve the win.

Daniels was 4 of 5 from the field and is now fifth in career points at Arkansas with 1,791, She also added six rebounds, two assists and one steal, tying her for third in career steals with 239.

Spencer also tallied 14 points, with six assists, while Keats finished with 11 points, in her first game back from a broken nose.

Arkansas was without the SEC’s leading scorer, freshman Taliah Scott, who had to return home to Florida, due to a “serious family emergency,” according to the Razorback Sports Network.

Arkansas will hit the road to face Texas A&M on Thursday at 7 p.m. The game will be aired on SECN+.

Arkansas women’s basketball drops two straight for the first time this season

The Arkansas women fell into an early hole and could never claw back in a loss at Tennessee.

For the first time this season, the Arkansas women’s basketball team has suffered back-to-back losses, following an 81-55 defeat at the hands of Tennessee in Knoxville Monday night.

Freshman sensation Taliah Scott, the SEC’s leading scorer, poured in a game-high 23 points, leading the Hogs in scoring for the 15th time this season. It was also her 19th time scoring double-digits in 20 games this season, and the 13th time she topped 20 points.

Tennessee began the game on a 12-0 run and never relinquished control, leading by as many as 27 in the fourth quarter.

Already playing with a short bench, it didn’t help matters that Arkansas got into early foul trouble. Sophomores Saylor Poffenbarger and Maryam Dauda each had three fouls before halftime. Tennessee then finished the half with four unanswered points to go to the break, up 40-24.

The Vols opened the second half with a three, before extended the lead to 24 midway through the third, then took a 63-37 lead into the final frame.

Dauda was the only other Razorback player with double-digit points, netting 10, with five rebounds and two assists.

Arkansas will next host Missouri on Sunday at 3 p.m., with the game airing on the SEC Network.

Lady Razorbacks stumble in fourth, fall to Florida on the road, 85-81

Arkansas women’s basketball team surrendered a 10-point fourth quarter lead Thursday night in a loss at Florida.

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.

Super freshman Scott pours in 33 as Lady Razorbacks topple Auburn

Freshman Scott scores 17 of her game-high 33 points in the third quarter to lead the Lady Razorbacks to victory.

Down by nine at the half, the Arkansas women’s basketball team erupted for 31 points in the third quarter Sunday, to take command. But it was a pair of stout defensive stops at the end of the game that helped preserve a nail-biting 74-72 win over Auburn, in front of 4,450 fans inside Bud Walton Arena.

Super freshman Taliah Scott put on a show, once again, scoring 17 of her game-high 33 points in that third period. The SEC’s leading scorer – averaging 21.5 per game – drained 6 of 12 from beyond the 3-point line to top 30 points for the third time this season.

After Auburn (14-8, 3-6 SEC) shot out of the gates with a 6-0 lead, the Tigers then held Arkansas scoreless for nearly four minutes, later in the first quarter, to take a 17-6 lead.

The Lady Razorbacks (17-7, 5-4 SEC) missed their first nine shots from beyond the arc and trailed by 14 midway through the second quarter, before Scott hit from downtown and began to sway the momentum. Arkansas outscored Auburn 19-17 in the second stanza, but still trailed 34-25 at the intermission.

Scott and senior Makayla Daniels sank back-to-back triples within a 20-second span early in the third quarter, which pulled the Hogs to within five. Another three from Scott then cut it to two. And after Auburn made a free throw, Scott canned yet another triple to tie the score at 41-41.

Scott and Daniels then converted a pair of three-point plays, in the midst of an 18-1 Arkansas run, leading the Hogs to a a 56-45 lead heading to the fourth quarter.

Scott began the final frame with her sixth three of the night, extending the Razorback lead to 14. But a late 9-1 Auburn run helped trim the lead to one. The game was tied at 67-67 with 1:24 remaining, as Daniels sank a pair of free throws, only to see the Tigers convert a layup to knot the score once again.

Junior Samara Spencer converted a three-point play – with a layup and free throw – to put the Hogs back up by three with 37 seconds left.

After a big defensive stop by Arkansas, Scott was fouled and made a pair of free throws, before Auburn drained a three to cut the lead to 74-72. The Tigers then missed a layup with two seconds remaining, but got the rebound, only to miss another shot at the buzzer.

Daniels finished with 15 points and six rebounds, while sophomore Maryam Dauda picked up a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Saylor Poffenbarger, the SEC’s second leading rebounder, scored just four points, but grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for the Razorbacks.

Arkansas will next travel to Florida on Thursday, with a trip to Tennessee the following Monday, before returning home to host Missouri on Feb. 18.

Poffenbarger’s career night leads Hogs past Missouri on the road

Behind Saylor Poffenbarger’s career shooting performance, Arkansas women’s basketball picked up a valiant road win over Missouri on Sunday.

[autotag]Arkansas women’s basketball[/autotag] (16-6, 4-3 SEC) was able to grind out another conference road win on Sunday night, this time over the Missouri Tigers (11-10, 2-6 SEC), 67-58.

The Hogs were once again without leading scorer [autotag]Taliah Scott[/autotag], who missed her sixth straight game while rehabbing a back injury. Sans Scott, the Razorbacks struggled to pull away from the Tigers until the fourth quarter. They entered the fourth clinging to a one-point lead, but used a 12-4 midway through the period to seal the victory.

The story of the game was, without a doubt, the gutsy performance of guard [autotag]Saylor Poffenbarger[/autotag]. After missing Thursday night’s win over Kentucky due to a nagging foot injury, Poffenbarger returned to the lineup and made an immediate impact.

She finished with 24 points (8-11 3PT), 9 rebounds, a pair of assists and a steal. Her eight made 3-pointers were a new career-high and just one away from tying the program record. Three of her eight buckets from deep came in the final frame, which helped spur the Razorbacks’ game-clinching run.

One cool aspect of Poffenbarger’s career performance was that it took place on the same night as her mother, Amy, was being honored at Missouri with her Alumni Night.

[autotag]Makayla Daniels[/autotag] and [autotag]Samara Spencer[/autotag] were the only other Hogs in double figures, each finishing the night with 13 points. Maryam Dauda also had a solid night, as she tallied 7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 blocks and a steal.

Next up for the Hogs is a date with Alabama on Thursday night in Bud Walton Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. and will be televised on SEC Network.

Arkansas wins second game of West Palm Beach trip

Arkansas was 2-0 against teams from Illinois in West Palm Beach before Christmas.

It didn’t take a buzzer beater to dispatch Illinois-Chicago on Thursday at the Massimino Center.

The Razorbacks got 26 points from superstar Taliah Scott and a superb effort from Saylor Poffenbarger to defeat UIC by 8.

Poffenbarger’s double-double (17 points and 11 rebounds) helped Arkansas return home with a 2-0 mark in the Sunshine State. It was Poffenbarger’s fifth of the season.

Scott hit 6 3-pointers, a career high, in the victory, which improved the team’s record to 11-3 on the year.

Samara Spencer had 13 points to contribute to the cause.

Arkansas will be back in action in over a week, when Incarnate Word comes to town for the final nonconference game of the year on December 31.

Tipoff is at 1:30 p.m. and will be streamed on SEC Network+.

Dauda’s buzzer-beater ends epic 60-59 win over Illinois

Bentonville’s Maryam Dauda sank a layup just before the buzzer Wednesday to lift the Arkansas women to victory.

Sophomore Maryam Dauda hit a layup with less than a second left on the clock Wednesday to propel the Arkansas women’s basketball team to a thrilling 60-59 win over Illinois in the first of two games being played at the West Palm Beach Classic in Florida.

Down by a point, the Razorbacks got the ball to junior playmaker Samara Spencer with nine seconds to play. The savvy guard then found Dauda open under the basket for the winning score.

Spencer and SEC scoring leader Taliah Scott each netted 17 points to pace Arkansas. Dauda, a 6-foot-4 Bentonville product, was 4 of 5 from the field and finished with nine points, four rebounds and two blocked shots.

Ironically, Spencer and Scott are both Florida natives and got to shine back in their home state.

“Happy for our Florida kids to come home again,” head coach Mike Neighbors said. “And with Sam making the right basketball play, and Maryam being ready, with her hands up ready to catch it and lay that thing in at the buzzer. It was really exciting.”

Arkansas jumped out to a 7-0 lead to start the game, but went on a three-minute drought, allowing Illinois to respond with a 6-0 run.

The teams then traded the lead throughout the first half. Graduate guard Makayla Daniels scored on a layup, then hit one of two free throws late in the half to send the Razorbacks to the locker room with a 31-28 lead.

“Faced a lot of adversity with foul trouble early, and not being able to knock down free throws when we needed them,” Neighbors said. “But we really battled. I though defensively we really locked in when we needed to.”

After Illinois opened the second half with five straight points, Arkansas reclaimed a 43-40 advantage midway through the third quarter, on back-to-back threes from Spencer and sophomore Saylor Poffenbarger. But the Fighting Illini bounced back with a 7-0 run to retake the lead once again.

Illinois actually outscored Arkansas 23-17 in the third quarter, taking a three point lead into the final stanza.

Scott converted on a driving layup to put the Hogs back ahead, until Illinois tied the game again with a jumper. The score was knotted at 55-55 with 4:12 remaining.

The Hogs held Illinois to 0-for-8 from the three-point line throughout the contest, but only converted 4-of-23 themselves.

Arkansas trailed 59-56 with three minutes to play, but got two free throws from Poffenbarger and a key block from Dauda down the stretch.

Poffenbarger got the final defensive rebound with nine seconds left and passed to Spencer, who made her way right to the basket and found Dauda for the game-winner.

Poffenbarger scored eight points, while pulling down a game-high 19 rebounds, in addition to two assists and two blocks. The 19 boards was her third most this season.

Arkansas will play Illinois-Chicago Thursday at 10 a.m. (CT) to wrap up the West Palm Beach Classic. The game will be streamed on FloHoops.

Arkansas dominates Lousiana Tech 100-60 on Wednesday night

Taliah Scott’s 29 points highlights offensive onslaught from Hogs, as they rolled over Louisiana Tech 100-60 on Wednesday night.

It was fun Wednesday night inside Bud Walton Arena if you were a Razorback fan. Five Hogs scored in double figures as Arkansas (8-2) cruised to a 100-60 win over Louisiana Tech (2-7).

[autotag]Taliah Scott[/autotag] led the Hogs in scoring, once again, pouring in 29 points on 12-16 (75%) shooting from the floor, including 5-8 (62.5%) from three. While Scott’s offensive performance may get most of the spotlight, [autotag]Mike Neighbors[/autotag] credited three veterans – [autotag]Makayla Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Saylor Poffenbarger[/autotag] and [autotag]Samara Spencer[/autotag] – for their poise and focus entering the game.

“We don’t want to be that team that only plays to a certain standard based on what your opponent is ranked or something,” said Neighbors. “I also don’t try to fool our kids. I try to be as honest with them as I can. I knew that there was a potential for a letdown, but those three (Daniels, Poffenbarger and Spencer) had them ready to go at practice.”

The trio of Daniels, Poffenbarger and Spencer were able to bring that focus right into the game as they combined for 44 points – each scoring in double figures. Jenna Lawrence was the other Razorback with a double-digit scoring performance, adding 10 points of her own.

Arkansas will be back in action on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. as they host Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Coverage of that game can be found on the SEC Network.

Razorback women get big road win in Tallahassee over FSU

Arkansas used Taliah Scott’s 24 points and Saylor Poffenbarger’s 23 rebounds to a 13-point road win in the ACC-SEC Challenge on Thursday night.

Mike Neighbors’ ladies didn’t want to be upstaged by their male counterparts, so they took care of business on Thursday night in the ACC-SEC Challenge.

The No. 15 Florida State Seminoles were their latest victim, as Arkansas won 71-58.

Saylor Poffenbarger had 13 points and set a school record with 23 rebounds in the victory.

Neighbors only played seven, as Sasha Goforth has elected to take another leave of absence because of her personal health struggles.

Taliah Scott had 24 to lead all scorers. The Razorbacks used a 24-6 third quarter spurt to pull away in the second half.

Arkansas (7-1) shot 31 percent from both the field and from 3-point distance, but was still able to win comfortably.

They will be in action again on Sunday against No. 2 UCLA in Bud Walton Arena. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.