Gaulden leads six players in double-digits in Hogs exhibition
FAYETTEVILLE — Redshirt sophomore A’Tyanna Gaulden led six players in double-digits Monday as Arkansas’ women’s basketball team cruised to a 115-53 exhibition win over Southwest Baptist in Bud Walton Arena.
Gaulden was 11-for-18 from the field with one three-pointer, and she was 4-for-5 from the free throw line while pulling down one rebound on each end of the court. Redshirt sophomore Chelsea Dungee grabbed seven rebounds while going 5-for-5 from the field including two treys on her way to 16 points with a game-leading five assists.
Freshman Rokia Doumbia added 15 with six boards while junior college transfer Alexis Tolefree, of Conway, had 13 points in
21 minutes on the court. Senior guard Malica Monk, of North Little Rock, and junior forward Kiara Williams, of Little Rock, rounded out the Razorbacks in double figures with 12 and 10, respectively.
Malvern’s Raven Northcross-Baker started and played
13 minutes. She finished 2-for-4 shooting with four points, four rebounds and two steals.
After a 13-2 opening run in the opening 3:42, head coach Mike Neighbors made the first of several mass substitutions for the Razorbacks, pulling all five starters. Regardless of the players on the court, the team averaged 28.75 points per quarter.
The Division II Bearcats turned in their best performance in the second quarter with 17 points while averaging 13.25 per period.
Arkansas had 10 turnovers while grabbing 12 steals. The Bearcats committed 23 turnovers with just six takeaways. The Razorbacks outrebounded Southwest Baptist, 58-40.
Monk was selected Tuesday to the preseason All-Southeastern Conference Second Team in a vote by the league’s head coaches.
Monk led the Razorbacks and was 12th in the SEC averaging 15.9 points per game a year ago. She also accounted for 3.4 rebounds per game, had a team-best 122 assists, made 38 3-pointers and went 114—for-146 from the line as a junior.
The Razorbacks were voted No. 11 overall in the 14-team conference. That matches the team’s finish last season in the first year under Neighbors in his first season in Fayetteville.
Arkansas will host East Central Thursday at 7 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena in another exhibition game before kicking off the season at home on Nov. 9 against Northwestern State at 10:30 a.m.