WBB Preview: Central Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE – The Razorback women’s basketball team (6-8) will wrap up non-conference play on Sunday when it faces Central Arkansas (6-4) inside Bud Walton Arena. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m. CT and the game will be live streamed on SEC Network Plus with Josh Haley (analyst) and Matt Zimmerman (play-by-play) on the call.

The Hogs are coming off an 0-2 trip to Cherokee, N.C. for the Cherokee Invitational before the holiday break. Arkansas dropped the opening game to Liberty, 75-61, and the consolation game to Troy, 77-69. Despite the losses, Izzy Higginbottom shined with a combined 43 points and was named to the all-tournament team.

Central Arkansas will face its third power conference opponent when it comes to Fayetteville. The Sugar Bears gave up 89 points against Oklahoma State and 86 points to Kansas State earlier this season. The Hogs and Bears share two common opponents, the Cowgirls and Little Rock, who Arkansas beat 71-60 in November.

The two teams will square off for the fifth straight season and the sixth time overall. The Razorbacks own a 5-0 advantage in the all-time series record.

The Hogs will face LSU to open SEC play on Thursday, Jan. 2 at Bud Walton Arena.

Game Info

Opponent: Central Arkansas (6-4, 0-0 ASUN)
Tipoff: 2:00 p.m. CT
TV/Streaming: SEC Network+
Radio: Listen | RSN Affiliates
Live Stats: Click here

Arkansas
Head Coach: Mike Neighbors
Record at Arkansas: 144-100 (eighth season)
Career Record: 242-141 (12th)
Leading Scorer: Izzy Higginbottom (23.4 PPG)
Leading Rebounder: Vera Ojenuwa (7.8 RPG)

Central Arkansas
Head Coach: Tony Kemper
Record at Liberty: 27-16 (2nd season)
Career Record: 106-106 (8th)
Leading Scorer: Jade Upshaw (15.6 PPG)
Leading Rebounder: Elizabeth Abiara (5.8 RPG)

Game Notes

• Izzy Higginbottom has cemented herself as one of the best scorers in the NCAA through the first 14 games and ranks No. 4 in the country and first in the SEC in points per game (23.4) ahead of LSU’s Flau’Jae Johnson (22.0). She has been Arkansas’ leading scorer in nine games (Fairfield, Little Rock, UTA, UCLA, ORU, OSU, BGSU, BC, TTU, LU, Troy) this season.
• She also leads the team and ranks third in the SEC in FT%, going 100-110 (.909) from the charity stripe. Higginbottom leads the SEC and ranks second in the NCAA in FTA (110) and ranks first in the SEC and second in the NCAA in FTM (100). She’s been perfect from the line in seven games (ETA&M, LR, UCLA, BGSU, SEMO, LU, Troy) this season.
• Higginbottom exploded for a career-high 38 points against Boston College, the most points by a Razorback since Chelsea Dungee dropped 41 against Auburn in 2019.
• With the 38 points from the BC game and 18 points against SEMO, Higginbottom was named Co-SEC Player of the Week.
• Sophomore guard Kiki Smith has established herself as a consistent scoring threat for Arkansas. The Topeka, Kan. native has 10+ points in 9 of 14 games and has started every game this season.
• Smith paced Arkansas with 22 points in its first win of the season against East Texas A&M.  She went 8-9 from FG and the lone miss was in the fourth quarter. From beyond the arc, Kiki ranks third in the SEC and 28th in the NCAA with 33 3s.
• Freshman Phoenix Stotijn made her long awaited debut on Sunday against Texas Tech. The Dutch native settled in in the second half and shot 3-6 from three and converted her lone free throw attempt. Stotijn finished with 12 points and played just over 20 minutes.
• The Hogs also added former Razorback soccer player Ella Rogers to the roster. Rogers, a Granville, Ohio native, was a first-team all district and first-team all-league guard for Granville High School.

For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on social media.