Florida downs Arkansas 108-78 despite Higginbottom’s career-high 40

BY RAZORBACKS COMMUNICATIONS

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas women’s basketball fell to 2-7 in SEC play after a 108-78 loss to Florida (11-10, 3-6 SEC).

Izzy Higginbottom scored a career high 40 points and became the fourth Razorback to score at least 40 points in a game in program history. The senior extended her 30+ point game streak to three games, the longest such streak on record.

Arkansas (9-15) grabbed the lead early via a layup from Vera Ojenuwa. That would be the Hogs’ only lead of the game before the Gators jumped out to a 10-4 lead. Florida shot a perfect 4-4 from beyond the arc in the first quarter and led by 12 after the first 10 minutes.

The visitors outscored the Razorbacks 26-16 in the second quarter after going 12-19 from the field. Higginbottom led Arkansas with 18 points by halftime. The Gators finished the half going 6-9 (66.7%) from three-point land and 24-39 (61.5%) from the field. The Hogs were held to just 26.3% (10-38) for the half.

Arkansas had a cold start to start the third quarter and did not score until Cristina Sánchez’s layup 2:47 into the period. Florida then went on a 7-0 run and tied their highest scoring quarter of the night with 28 points. Higginbottom passed the 20-point mark with two made free throws, her 17th game with at least 20 points.

The Gators entered the fourth quarter ahead 82-54 and outscored the Razorbacks 26-24 in the final 10 minutes. Senior and former Arkansas soccer student-athlete Ella Rogers made her debut in the final minutes.

Game Notes

Higginbottom tied for the 3rd most points in a game (40), tied for the 2nd most points in an SEC game, the fifth most field goals made in an SEC game (13)

She moved up to No. 6 on the program’s single season scoring list with 583 points

She is averaging 24.3 points per game, which would rank atop the program’s single season scoring average list. The mark also leads the SEC and ranks in the top 5 nationally

She picked up her 13th game with at least 25 points and is tied with Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson to lead the NCAA

Higginbottom has scored at least 30 points in her last three SEC appearances: 32 at No. 11 Kentucky, 33 against Texas A&M and 40 against Florida. She had 38 at Auburn in Arkansas’ first SEC win of the season

Up Next

Arkansas will travel to Mississippi State for a Thursday night matchup. The Bulldogs (16-7, 3-6 SEC) are coming off an 81-67 loss to No. 6 LSU.

Photo by John D. James