Preview: Lady’backs set for Texas Tech in Super WNIT
FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas women’s basketball team (23-12, 7-9 Southeastern Conference) is set to host its third game of the 2023 Postseason WNIT, as Texas Tech (2014, 6-12 Big 12) comes into town for the Super 16 on Friday, March 24 at 7 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena. Former Southwest Conference foes, the game will mark the first played between these two teams since 2016 and the 28th contest of the all-time series. The winner of this matchup will advance to the Great 8 and become one step closer to a WNIT Championship. Tickets are $10 for all, and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Friday, March 24
Time: 7 p.m.
Opponent: Texas Tech Location: Bud Walton Arena Watch: SECN+
Listen: Razorback Sports Network from Learfield
Arkansas has advanced to the Super 16 of the Postseason WNIT, making it the sixth time the Razorbacks have qualified for the third round of the tournament in program history.
In Arkansas’ eighth WNIT appearance, the Razorbacks are 3-2 in third-round games.
The Razorbacks will take on Texas Tech, a Lady Raider team who boasts a 20-14 record, a nine-win improvement from the 11-19 season in 2021-22. Texas Tech also went 6-12 in the Big 12 to finish in eighth in the league.
As old SWC opponents, these two teams have a rich history with Arkansas owning the 18-9 edge leading into the 28th contest of the series. The last time these two teams played was in 2016
In Arkansas’ first two WNIT games, the Razorbacks have held opponents to 47 (vs. LA Tech) and 37 (vs. SFA) points each for a 42.0 points per game average on defense.
The Razorbacks are 23-12, which marks the program’s 22nd 20-win season, third under Mike Neighbors. This is also the most wins for the program since 2019-20 when that team went 24-8. Arkansas received the automatic qualifying bid to the WNIT as the SEC’S highest finisher among teams not chosen for the NCAA Tournament.
In the Neighbors era, this is his fifth postseason appearance with Arkansas (three NCAA Tournaments including 2020 and now two WNITS). Only three schools in the SEC have qualified for postseason tournaments in each of the past five seasons with Arkansas being one of them. Tennessee and South Carolina are the other two.
Poffenbarger leads the team in rebounding with 6.9 per game and has 38 blocks. She is also the record holder for single-season defensive rebounds with 212, while being the first Hog to pull down 200+ defensive boards in a season (since the stat has been tracked).