FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' women briefly overcame technical difficulties to take one last lead, but they couldn't overcome Alabama's 20-for-25 fourth-quarter free throws as the Crimson Tide rolled to an 83-76 SEC victory Sunday before 1,644 at Walton Arena.
The Razorbacks (10-6, 1-2 in the SEC) lost despite a combined 57 points from senior guard Devin Cosper, junior guard Malica Monk of North Little Rock and sophomore guard Jailyn Mason. Cosper finished with a double-double with a game-high 24 points and game-high 13 rebounds plus four assists and two steals, Monk added 21 and Mason 12.
Alabama (12-4, 2-1 in the SEC) was led by guard Jordan Lewis' 18 points including 6-of-9 free throws, but it was the inside presence of Ashley Williams, 11-of-13 free throws, who forced much of Arkansas' fouling while Alabama guard Shaq Wade also drove inside enough to be 6-of-8 on free throws.
Alabama, 25-of-36 total for free throws, shot more free throws for the fourth quarter than Arkansas did in the entire game, 18-of-21, paced by Cosper's 12-for-12.
Alabama led 32-29 at the half, but Arkansas dominated the third quarter 26-18 to lead 55-50 starting the fourth quarter. The Razorbacks led 60-56 with 7:31 left when Mason was called for both a foul and a technical, apparently protesting as it appeared she might have blocked Ashley Williams' shot.
Williams made three of her four free throws. Then Arkansas turned it over, leading to Quanteria Bolton's Alabama bucket and 61-60 lead with another Arkansas turnover preceding Cosper fouling Ashley Williams for two more Alabama points.
Alabama would stretch its lead to six, but Arkansas, fueled by Cosper's and-one three-point play, would lead again, 69-68, at 2:57 on Monk's bucket before the Tide rolled an 8-0 stretch to run away with the game, augmented by an Arkansas turnover, two missed difficult shots and more Arkansas fouls.
"They came right back after we got that last lead," Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors said when asked about the technical foul's impact. "We could not sustain after that first possession. I think it (the technical foul) took some air out of us. It was a crucial time for it to occur but I'm not mad at Jailyn. Jailyn was playing basketball. I'll take that fight from our players in any form or fashion."
Neighbors especially credited Cosper.
He reminded media as Cosper sat by him postgame: "This kid played had a pretty good game by the way," and he gave coach Kristy Curry's Tide its due.
"When the intensity of the game stepped up their veterans really made some big plays and they became the aggressor and they started going inside," Neighbors said. "They got into the bonus in two minutes of the second half and changed the flow of the game in the fourth quarter. They imposed their will in the fourth quarter after a very good third quarter by our guys."
A great third quarter by Arkansas, Curry said.
"In the third quarter I was so mad at them I could have chewed nails in half," Curry said of her frustration with her team against Arkansas' prowess. "I think their big three (Cosper, Monk and Mason) had 57 points, and that's incredible. They are difficult to stop, but we had a lot of experience to draw from and our post players (Ashley Knight added 10 points, four rebounds and two blocked shots and reserve Jasmine Walker tallied eight Alabama points and seven rebounds) were amazing in every aspect. I thought our guards fed off their energy. Getting to the free throw line (only 2 for 3 the first half) in the second half made the difference."
Ashley Williams said, "Our goal was to go inside-out and get in the paint, and we came out with the win."
Cosper credited her teammates helping her score 24 points by "getting her in the right positions to succeed," but upon losing their fourth quarter lead "we, including me, got sped up when they were pressing. We just need to stay composed, and we'll be fine."
Arkansas hits the road visiting SEC opponents Georgia Thursday night in Athens and at Auburn next Sunday afternoon in Auburn, Ala.
Alabama hosts LSU in Tuscaloosa on Thursday night.
Sports on 01/09/2018