Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Razorbacks struggle
Women go down to defeat in SEC opener against Mississippi State.
FAYETTEVILLE — Jordan Danberry walked out of Bud Walton Arena and away from the Arkansas women’s basketball program in 2016, just six games into her sophomore season. On Thursday, she made it back in a Mississippi State uniform, and her return could not have been scripted any better. The Conway native scored a career-best 26 points to lead the No. 7 Lady Bulldogs to a 93-69 win in the Southeastern Conference opener in front of 1,535 that included a lot of family and friends who made the trip from Central Arkansas. “It was different (being in the visitor’s) locker room,” Danberry said of her return. “I felt like I was comfortable here. I’ve been wearing this jersey for a long time now, so I’m not really feeling anything different just playing out there.” Danberry transferred under former Arkansas coach Jimmy Dykes, whose three years and 43-46 record ended that season. She left the program in December and transferred to Mississippi State, sitting out last season. “It was really important just to come back my senior year, play here, having my family in Conway come out and support me,” Danberry said. “It’s just a really special night, just being able to play here again.”
Arkansas focused most of its attention in the first half in stopping star Bulldogs’ center Teaira McCowan. The Razorbacks used a guard to front McCowan, and Danberry took advantage, pouring in 14 points on 7-for-11 shooting in the first quarter. Razorbacks guard Chelsea Dungee, who scored 25 points, said she could see something extra in Danberry’s game considering her opponent’s past. “She probably came out with a point to prove,” Dungee said. “She played well.” The defensive strategy to limit McCowan worked, holding her to 4 points in the first quarter, but McCowan took advantage of Arkansas’ fatigue in the second quarter to pour in 10 points. She ultimately dominated with 16 points and 22 rebounds. The Razorbacks managed to limit Bulldogs star forward Anriel Howard to 8 points on eight shots, partly by getting her into foul trouble. “They’re so hard to score against, and then you think you’re doing a good job, and you look up at the scoreboard and you’re down 20,” second-year Razorbacks coach Mike Neighbors said. “They made us look like at times we didn’t have a very good plan, which at times we didn’t have, but when you’re trying to guard five starters who can all really, really attack and do things, it’s hard.” Arkansas’ loss snapped a six-game winning streak that started with a Dec. 4 win over Tennessee Tech. Dungee was 10 of 23 shooting and had four blocked shots. Taylah Thomas scored 15 and added nine rebounds, while Alexis Tolefree added 11 to round out the Razorbacks’ double-digit scoring effort. “They’re certainly much better,” Bulldogs coach Vic Schaefer, a former Arkansas assistant, said of the Razorbacks. “They’re a completely different team than a year ago … skill set’s better.”
TIP-INS
■ Danberry’s previous high scoring mark came her freshman season when she scored 14 points. ■ Though Arkansas lost by 24 points, it showed a significant improvement over last season’s 42-point beatdown in Starkville. ■ McCowan’s 22-rebound performance was her first 20-plus rebound game of the season, but it marks her seventh in the last two seasons. She picked up her 50th career double-double. Her 1,037-rebound career is good for second in program history.
UP NEXT
Arkansas: The Razorbacks travel to Ole Miss on Sunday for their first SEC road game. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs will host Kentucky on Sunday.