Arkansas women head into Christmas break riding three-game hoops losing streak

BY DUDLEY E DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – The Christmas breaks for the Troy and Arkansas women’s basketball are going to be vastly different because of Thursday night at the Harrah’s Cherokee (N.C.) Invitational.

The Trojans (6-6) will go into the holiday on the high of a 77-69 win over the Razorbacks – a squad that has now lost three strait and probably feels likes it will have coal waiting in the stockings.

“What a way to go into the Christmas break,” Troy head coach Chanda Rigby said. “We went out there and worked hard for that win over Arkansas. The team showed just how high our ceiling can be. We had to respond after the heartbreaking loss (to Toledo) last night. We had to pick our emotions back up to be able to do what we did today. And that’s what I’m most proud of.

“…This is the best Christmas present I could’ve asked for, and I can’t wait to get into SBC (Sun Belt Conference) play.”

Arkansas head coach Mike Neighbors and his team are now off for what will no doubt seem like a long six-day break from practice and a 10-day break before hosting UCA on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m.

“Three games makes a streak,” Arkansas Coach Mike Neighbors said. “I’ve always said two is not quite a streak, but three is, and it makes Christmas tough. I hate it for our kids to go in limping like this, because they’re going to have to go home and justify some of the things and probably answer a lot of questions. I know I will.”

Izzy Higginbottom gad 13 of her team-high 19 points after intermission against Troy while Kiki Smith had 13 points, Jenna Lawrence 10 and Danika Galea 10.

Arkansas rallied from 19 down in the second quarter to take a lead over Toledo on Wednesday, but then went 1 of 10 in the last five minutes in a 75-61 loss.

The Razorbacks then rallied to take a 37-35 lead over Troy Thursday early in the third quarter, but went cold midway thought the fourth quarter were just 3 of 10 in last five minutes.

“It’s like, ‘Oh, here it comes again,’ ” Neighbors said. “You get the lead and then you’re like, ‘OK, tonight’s the night.’ And then a kid who hadn’t made any threes all year long makes two back-to-back. … Those are real demons that teams face. We are certainly facing them.”

Zay Dyer had 23 points to lead five Troy players in double figures.

Arkansas shot just 25 of 73 overall from field and 9 of 33 from 3-point range in the contest.

“We are good shooters when we are taking good shots,” Neighbors said. “But (not) when we take shots that the best shooters in the world don’t make.

“…It is very frustrating. We’re not going to keep trying the same thing over. We subbed faster tonight. We got to more lineups quicker.”

Photo courtesy of Razorbacks Communications/Noah Southard