Women's basketball falls at Arkansas, 65-58

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

SMU Defense Shines In 65-58 Loss At Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (SMU) – Savannah Wilkinson posted a career-high 20 points with 10 rebounds for a fourth straight double-double. She was one of three Mustangs in double figures scoring, but the SMU women's basketball team lost at Arkansas, 65-58, Monday night.

"We know what we’re going to get from Savannah game in and game out. She works [deleted] both ends of the floor, and is just a great competitor," SMU head coach Toyelle Wilson stated. "She's been playing at a high level, and these are the kinds of performances we knew she was capable of when she came to SMU."

Kayla White scored 12 points for SMU, and Sydne Wiggins finished with 11 points, going 3-for-4 from 3-point range. Wilkinson was 10-for-17 from the field to reach 20 points for the first time in her career, scoring 14 in the second half. SMU shot 39.7 from the field, while the Razorbacks finished with a 39.1 shooting percentage. The Mustangs held Arkansas 10 percentage points below their average, allowing a season-low four 3's on 20 attempts, 20.0 percent.

SMU held Arkansas to its lowest points total of the season, and Razorbacks leading scorer Samara Spencer was limited to a season low six points. The Mustangs were even with the Razorbacks on the boards, with both teams pulling down 40, and SMU had 31 on the defensive end of the floor, limiting Arkansas to just 13 second-chance opportunities.

"Coming in, we wanted to focus on our transition defense, defending the 3-point line, and rebounding. The girls were locked in the whole game, and executed the defensive game plan. Arkansas is capable of putting up points, and we gave ourselves a chance to win with our defensive effort," Wilson explained.

SMU (2-2) trailed Arkansas, 4-1 and receiving votes in the AP Top 25 Poll, by seven points at halftime. The Mustangs scored 18 points to win the third quarter, a high by either team at that point, but could only cut the lead by two, trailing 46-41 after 30 minutes of action.

Arkansas extended the lead to as many as 14 points midway through the fourth quarter, its largest lead of the game. SMU answered with a 12-3 run to cut the lead to five, 61-56, with 2:37 left to play. Wilkinson accounted for eight of the 12 points during the run. Trailing by seven with 23 seconds left, Wilkinson took a 3 from the top of the key that just missed, and Arkansas dribbled out the clock for the win.

The Mustangs play their next two games in Las Vegas at the South Point Shootout. SMU takes on Seattle Thursday at 7 p.m. CT/5 p.m. PT, and Green Bay Saturday at 2 p.m. CT/12 p.m. PT.

[ritarivas89]

Looking forward to conference games.