Arkansas women’s basketball will try to snap its SEC skid Thursday night as the Razorbacks close a two-game homestand with a rematch against Missouri at Bud Walton Arena. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. on SECN+.
Arkansas enters 11-12 overall and 0-8 in league play, while the Tigers are 15-9 and 3-6 in the SEC. Missouri claimed the first meeting Jan. 15 in Columbia, 94-69, but the Razorbacks have had the edge at home in recent years, winning five of the last six matchups in Fayetteville. The game also serves as Arkansas’ annual Play4Kay contest, raising awareness for breast cancer through the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.The Razorbacks are still searching for their first conference win in the Kelsi Musick era, navigating one of the nation’s toughest league slates. Seven of Arkansas’ first 10 SEC opponents have been ranked, and the Hogs are coming off a 93-73 loss to No. 18 Kentucky on Sunday. Arkansas stayed within striking distance for much of that contest and even led late in the third quarter before being outscored 52-29 down the stretch. Junior Emily Robinson paced the Hogs with a season-high 20 points on efficient shooting, while Taleyah Jones – averaging 16.9 points per game – went a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line. Arkansas continues to rely on its work on the glass, where Bonnie Deas’ 202 rebounds rank among the SEC leaders and the team averages 42.7 boards per game.
Missouri arrives with momentum after an 88-80 road win over Mississippi State, closing that game on a 14-2 run in a back-and-forth battle that featured 20 lead changes. The Tigers, in their first season under coach Kellie Harper, already have matched last season’s win total and feature three players averaging double figures. Grace Slaughter leads the way at 19.3 points per game, one of the top marks in the SEC. Following Thursday’s contest, Arkansas heads back on the road to face Florida on Sunday.
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