Higginbottom’s birthday return helps Arkansas race past UCA 79-60

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – It was certainly not on the level of the 1970 NBA playoffs, but Arkansas women’s basketball star Izzy Higginbottom had her own Willis Reed moment Sunday at Bud Walton Arena.

Reed famously shook off an torn muscle in his right thigh to play in game seven of the finals and returned to a rousing ovation to lead the New York Knicks over the Los Angles Lakers 113-99.

Higginbottom, whose 22nd birthday was Sunday, ended the first quarter with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give her 12 early points and her team a 24-23 lead over visiting UCA.

But minutes later, Higginbottom’s hip flexor flared up and she headed to the locker room for treatment to the dismay of the crowd and her teammates, who were hoping to end a three-game losing skid.

Yet her Razorback teammates responded with a surge and then got all excited when Higginbottom returned, finished the game with a game-high 26 points as the Razorbacks downed the Sugar Bears 79-60.

“You could see it,” Neighbors said. “Like everybody’s head was looking that way and I turned arohd and looked for her, too. Then I looked up and all of a sudden we are up 10. We kind of went on a little run there and then I saw her coming back out and we just kind of kept it going.

“Maybe not the magnitude of Willis Reed’s return to the game, but her importance to us, the way that she leads. I didn’t think there was any panic, but I think Phoenix and Kiki (Smith) and (Carly) Keats kind of looked at each other and said ‘we have got to go until she gets back.’

“I think had she not come back there might have been some panic, but the fact that she gutted it out and came out there when she was hurting was big. I just told (Arkansas radio play by play man) Phil (Elson) on the radio that all I ever ask our doctor is that if she plays could she hurt herself worse.

“That is always my question. She is always going to tell me she wants to play so I talk to the people who went to medical school.”

Higginbottom, who leads the SEC in scoring and entered the game fourth nationally with an average of 23.6 points per game, said there was no doubt she would be returning.

“I had kind of tweaked my hip flexor a little bit (in the Harrah’s Cherokee Tournament) (in) North Carolina and there was kind of a wet spot on the floor and I had just hyperextended it so it kind of strained it,” Higginbottom said. “So I was kind of struggling with that throughout the game, but I was not going to sit out…I wanted to push through for my team and that’s just kind of the player I am.”

Neighbors has great respect for the former Batesville prep star who went to Missouri and Arkansas State before matriculating to Fayetteville for her final season.

Higginbottom hit 9 of 14 shots from the field, 1 of 2 from three-point range and 9 of 11 free throws on her birthday.

“She like 42,” Neighbors said. “Just the things she chooses to ca re about. She’s an old show and doesn’t let some of the things kids her age let bother her…She takes everything in stride and she wants the pressure, loves being counted on.”

That included on her buzzer beater.

“Coach is always talking about, when the clock is winding down, always how important it is to get a shot off,” Higgingbotton said. “I think that moment proved what he said to us and I think that was a big momentum shifter for us.”

Arkansas (7-8) used a 13-2 run around Higginbottom’s exit and reentry and then a 19-0 spree in the third quarter to put away UCA
(6-5).

Stotijn, Smith and Vera Ojenuwa all had 12 points, Christina Sanchez Cerqeira 10 rebounds and Ojenuwa 9 board to help the Razorbacks.

It was a much-needed win with SEC action starting Thursday night with 2023 national champion and 2024 runner up LSU (15-0) coming to Bud Walton Arena for an 8 p.m. game.

The No. 6 Tigers, who have former Razorback Jersey Wolfenbarger on their roster this season, are the first of a brutal four-game start to conference for Arkansas, who travels to No. 5 Texas (13-1) and Auburn (9-4) and then faces visiting No. 15 Tennessee (12-0).

“It changes the way you feel,” Neighbors said. “Having a win instead of the loss, you practice better, you watch film better, so it’s very important because our next four games are against great teams. If you go in there with your head down just a little bit, you stand no chance.

“Now, you go in with a little bit of momentum. [There were] some good things, some positive things, so you’ll have a chance.”

The SEC is loaded again this season.

“A lot of teams can win the tournament. We have 4 or 5 legit contenders, 12 or 13 teams I think can be in the (NCAA) tournament,” Neighbors said. “We’re prepared for it….I do like how our kids are approaching it. That’s why they came here. They knew it would be a challenge.”

Photo by John D. James