NASHVILLE, Tenn. The University of Arkansas womens basketball team erased a 12-point Vanderbilt lead to challenge the Commodores in the final seconds in Nashville but came up two points short in a 66-64 loss on Thursday.
Arkansas (13-15, 2-13 SEC) saved all of the action for the final two minutes of the game. After trailing by double figures, the Razorbacks outscored Vanderbilt 22-15 in the fourth frame but couldnt steal the win. The last four meetings have been decided by a combined total of eight points between these teams.
Freshman Aaliyah Wilson led Arkansas with 14 points while senior Jessica Jackson picked up a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Keiryn Swenson finished with 10 points in what was a very balanced effort by the Razorbacks.
After a good start, Arkansas ran into foul trouble and played with a small lineup for much of the first half. Vanderbilt held Jackson without a point and forced six turnovers in the first 10 minutes of play.
That trend continued in the second quarter but, in the plus side of the ledger, the Razorbacks tallied five steals, 16 points in the paint and forced nine Commodore turnovers. Arkansas trailed by as many as nine and cut the Commodore lead to eight at the break.
Vanderbilt, the best 3-point shooting team in the league, came to life from distance and pulled away by double figures at the midpoint of the third quarter. Arkansas continued to play well in the paint and Jackson connected from the charity stripe cutting the Commodore lead to single digits heading into the final stanza.
The Arkansas offense continued to fight and closed the gap to five points, 51-46, with 8:04 to play but a foul and quick score by Vanderbilt stalled the run for the Razorbacks. Vanderbilt stretched the lead again and the Razorbacks responded with a 6-0 run that included an Aaliyah Wilson 3-pointer to pull within six, 58-52, with 4:52 to play.
It was nip-and-tuck for the remainder of the game with the Razorbacks playing slow and steady. Training by three, 64-61, with 1:30 to play, Arkansas worked the offense and Wilson drove and kicked the ball out to the corner where Jackson hit a 3-pointer tying the game at 64.
A quick timeout by Vanderbilt allowed the Commodores to advance the ball to half court with 29 seconds to play. Looking for one shot, Vanderbilt got the shot they wanted but the 3-point attempt was short after Jackson tipped it leaving the oppositions hand.
The Commodores grabbed the rebound and Arkansas was whistled for a foul with three seconds on the clock. Both bonus shots were good as the home team escaped with the win.
Arkansas hosts Auburn for Senior Day and its final game of the regular season on Sunday. The SEC Tournament begins Wednesday in Greenville, South Carolina.
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