Arkansas women knock off New Mexico State at UTEP

EL PASO, Texas – The University of Arkansas women’s basketball team used a 24-15 third quarter to defeat New Mexico State on the road, 69-60, at the UTEP Classic in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday.

Graduate student Devin Cosper and sophomore Kiara Williams had double-doubles. For Cosper it was her third as a Razorback with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Williams scored 11 points and had 11 rebounds for the first double-double of her career. Junior Malica Monk paced the team with a gamehigh 22 points. It is her sixth consecutive game in double figures and her fourth with 20 or more points this year.

The Aggies (2-4) led at the halftime break but a 3-pointer by Cosper gave Arkansas (4-2) the lead for the first time since early in the game. The teams traded baskets until Monk grabbed a steal and went coast-to-coast for the score. That basket gave the Razorbacks and they never trailed again in the game.

Williams did most of her damage in the second half as well scoring 10 points and getting eight of her 11 rebounds in the third and fourth quarters.

Arkansas led by as many as 11 in the third frame but the Aggies took advantage of a season-high 18 Razorback turnovers to score quickly cutting the lead to one possession, 56-54, with 3:30 to play in the game. Monk answered the call with a three-pointer – her only one of the game – stretching the lead by to five points.