Arkansas stays unbeaten by downing UCA on Native American Heritage Appreciation Night

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

Arkansas finished off its five-game pre-Thanksgiving slate unblemished Monday night with yet another women’s basketball victory on Native American Heritage Month Appreciation Night at Bud Walton Arena.

The Razorbacks (5-0) downed the University of Central Arkansas 81-67 before 4,200 fans at Bid Walton Arena to give the team its third win in as many NAHM games.

Saylor Poffenbarger and Taliah Scott each had 18 points to lead five Arkansas players in double figures while Samara Spencer added 16, Maryam Dauda 14 and Makayla Daniels 11.

Jade Upshaw led UCA (2-2) with 16 points and Randrea Wright 14, Kinley Fisher 11 and Bree Stephens 10 for the Bears.

The game featured Arkansas wearing special Nike Turquoise N7 uniforms, the national anthem sung in Cherokee by Ella Mounce and a special halftime dance performance by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Razorback sophomore Carly Keats, a Native American from Choctaw, Miss., averaging 7.5 points per game this season, played 11 minutes and had 2 rebounds on Monday night.

N7 is Nike’s shoe brand collection that honors and embodies the values, stories and diversity of Indigenous traditions and craft.

Profits from a few N7 games around the country each season provides funds for Inter Tribal Sports (ITS), a nonprofit organization based on campus that promotes organized athletics, wellness and leadership programs among tribal youth.

San Diego State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are among other schools that host N7 games.

The Razorbacks are 3-0 this season and 14-0 overall against in-state teams since a University of Arkansas ban was lifted in 2019.

Arkansas will return to action Friday in Florida when it faces Wisconsin in a 1 p.m. game at the Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tournament.

The Razorbacks will also play Saturday at Sound Coast Arena against either Marquette or Boston College at either 4 p.m. or 6:30.

Quotes to be added

Photo by John D. James