Fast start leads Razorback women to second SEC win

Submitted photo WINNING WONDER: Wonderview's Bailey Zimmerman (22) knocked down three 3-pointers at Auburn on Sunday and finished with a season-best 13 points as Arkansas earned a 68-58 SEC road win. Zimmerman's 11 first-half points helped Arkansas jump out to a 41-17 lead after the first 20 minutes. Photo by Walt Beazley, courtesy of Razorback Athletics Communications.
Submitted photo WINNING WONDER: Wonderview's Bailey Zimmerman (22) knocked down three 3-pointers at Auburn on Sunday and finished with a season-best 13 points as Arkansas earned a 68-58 SEC road win. Zimmerman's 11 first-half points helped Arkansas jump out to a 41-17 lead after the first 20 minutes. Photo by Walt Beazley, courtesy of Razorback Athletics Communications.

AUBURN, Ala. -- University of Arkansas junior Bailey Zimmerman had a break out game Sunday to help the Razorback women's basketball team to a 68-58 Southeastern Conference road win at Auburn.

Zimmerman, a junior from Wonderview, dropped in a season-best 13 points behind three 3-pointers as Arkansas (11-7, 2-3 SEC) knocked off the Tigers (10-7, 1-4) on their home court. In addition to her scoring, Zimmerman's defense, including a career-best eight rebounds, fueled a 24-point halftime lead that resulted in the win.

Kiara Williams, a sophomore from Little Rock Central, picked up her third double-double with a career-best 15 points and 14 rebounds. Sophomore Jailyn Mason, from Mason, Ohio, and junior Malica Monk, from North Little Rock, also finished in double figures with 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Auburn scored first, but Arkansas went on a 6-0 run that prompted a Tiger timeout just 1:30 into the game. Arkansas finished the quarter up five points, 16-11. The Razorbacks poured in 25 points in the second frame.

A 13-0 run gave Arkansas 15-point lead at the media timeout, and the Razorbacks outscored Auburn 25-6 in the frame to lead 41-17 at the half. It is the second-largest halftime lead for the Razorbacks this season and the first time Arkansas has led at the break since beating Ole Miss at Bud Walton Arena on Dec. 31 to open conference play.

Zimmerman, Monk and Mason were all in double figures in the first half. Zimmerman tied her season-best with 11 points in the first 20 minutes.

The 41 points was the second-most Arkansas scored in an opening half this season behind the 42 points scored in the first two quarters against Samford in the second game of the season. The Razorbacks hit a season-best nine 3-pointers in the first half and outrebounded Auburn 23-11. It marked only the sixth time this year Arkansas had more rebounds than its opponent in the first 20 minutes.

The Tigers rallied in the second half, outscoring Arkansas in the final two periods, but the first half deficit was too big for them to overcome as the Razorbacks picked up the conference road win.

Malvern's Raven Northcross-Baker struggled shooting. She hit 2-for-10 on field goals and 1-for-6 from distance to finish with seven points and six rebounds in 28 minutes.

The only starter not to finish in double figures was senior guard Devin Cosper, from Coffeyville, Kan. She played only eight minutes before leaving the game with an injury after rolling her ankle.

Arkansas returns home to host Florida (8-10, 0-5) on Thursday. The home tilt will be followed by back-to-back road games at No. 12 Missouri (15-2, 3-1) on Jan. 21 and at No. 9 South Carolina (14-3, 3-2) on Jan. 25.

Sports on 01/16/2018

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