Razorbacks steal another late win

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Arkansas women’s basketball team came up with its second late win of the season on Sunday, 69-68, against Wisconsin in the final game of the Challenge in Music City.

Arkansas (4-2) trailed, 68-67 with 11 seconds to go and the Badgers (6-1) called a timeout to advance the ball to half-court. Redshirt sophomore A’Tyanna Gaulden tipped the inbounds pass and rushed it ahead to senior Malica Monk for the basket on the steal.

Monk laid it up and in to give Arkansas a 69-68 lead with a little more than four seconds to play. Wisconsin again called timeout to advance the ball to half-court.

The ball was put into play, but a Wisconsin player stepped on the baseline with the ball on a drive to the basket. The turnover gave Arkansas the ball back for the win.

Redshirt sophomore Chelsea Dungee earned all-tournament team honors with a game-high 20 points, including a 3-point field goal to tie the game at 54-all with just over six minutes to play. Dungee was 3-for-5 from distance and 7-for-10 from the line.

Junior Kiara Williams and Monk scored 13 points each, while junior Jailyn Mason added 12 points, all in the second half comeback. Sophomore Taylah Thomas posted a season-best 12 rebounds, allowing Arkansas to edge Wisconsin on the boards, 44-43.

Arkansas trailed by as many as 15 points, 50-35, but finished the game on a 39-18 run for the win.

A slow start doomed the Razorbacks on the second day of the tournament. Pittsburgh (4-4) took a 61-54 victory on Saturday.

Arkansas shot just 25.7 percent, 19-for-74, including an 8-for34 performance in the first 20 minutes. The Razorbacks trailed, 25-18, by halftime.

Pittsburgh led, 28-16, on rebounds after the first two quarters. The Panthers finished with 48 rebounds to 40 for Arkansas with

42 points in the paint and 10 second-chance points. Arkansas only committed eight turnovers while forcing 22 miscues by Pittsburgh. The Razorbacks turned those turnovers into 19 points, including 10 in the second half.

Bailey Zimmerman sparked the Arkansas effort in the second half. She finished with the first double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Alexis Tolefree led Arkansas with 12 points. Dungee was also in double figures with 10 points.

Arkansas will return home on Wednesday to host Oral Roberts (3-3) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Razorbacks will go back on the road on Sunday to Iowa State (5-0) as part of the Big 12/ SEC Challenge.