Arkansas women back in action after week off for final exams

FAYETTEVILLE — The high-scoring tandem of Malica Monk and Devin Cosper has gotten plenty of attention for their play, but Arkansas women’s basketball coach Mike Neighbors said sophomore Jailyn Mason may not have gotten the credit she deserves.

Monk and Cosper rank 1-2 in scoring — both averaging 18 points per game — for the Razorbacks.

But the 5-foot-9 Mason does more than just score, Neighbors said. She averages nine points, four rebounds, three assists and 1.5 steals per game. Mason ranks third in scoring, second in assists and third in steals on the team and scored in double figures for the fourth straight game in Arkansas’ win over Tulsa last Sunday.

“Jailyn Mason is very, very undervalued by a lot of people,” Neighbors said. “I think her numbers are always just steady and steadiness sometimes gets lost in the shuffle when people are getting career highs.

“I’m very, very pleased with how she can morph from point guard to scoring guard to passing guard. She can guard a variety of people on the perimeter. I didn’t know how good she was at so many different things.”

Mason will need another big game as the Razorbacks (7-3) play host to Texas-Arlington this afternoon at 2. The Mavericks (5-4) are the preseason favorite to win the Sun Belt Conference, but are currently riding a fourgame losing streak.

Neighbors said he was excited when he saw the schedule because he’s familiar with some of UTA’s players and coaches. But the opponent presents plenty of challenges.

“It’s a team that’s got some postseason experience and they like to win and expect to win,” Neighbors said.

The Mavericks have a big post player in 6-foot-5 senior Rebecca Vandijk, who averages 11.6 points and teambest 8.9 rebounds per game. Big post players have given Arkansas problems this season since Kiara Williams and Taylah Thomas are only 6-1. But Macy Weaver, a 6-foot3 freshman, has flourished in an expanded role against bigger opponents, Neighbors said.

“The big kid always presents us with some unique challenges,” Neighbors said. “But we’ve gotten a whole lot better at defending that than we were early in the year. “

Arkansas is coming off a big effort in a 67-41 win over Tulsa a week ago, before taking a break for final exams. The Razorbacks will be looking for their third straight win and to improve to 6-0 at home this season.

“I thought it was our most complete 40 minutes,” Neighbors said. “We’re still not at 40 minutes, but we’re getting closer.”

The Razorbacks finish this three-game homestand before going to Arizona State on Thursday. They finish nonconference play by hosting Grambling on Dec. 28 before hosting Ole Miss to open Southeastern Conference play on Dec. 31.