Preview – Arkansas Set to Host Louisiana Tech in First Round of WNIT

FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas women’s basketball team (21-12, 7-9 Southeastern) has qualified for its fifth straight postseason tournament, as the Razorbacks will host Louisiana Tech (19-12, 12-8 Conference USA) in the first round of the Postseason WNIT. This marks the Razorbacks’ eighth WNIT appearance in program history (since the Postseason WNIT was created in 1998), as well as 26th postseason berth. Arkansas’ game versus the Lady Techsters is set for Thursday, March 16 for a 7 p.m. tipoff at Bud Walton Arena. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+. Tickets are available to be purchased, $5 for adults and $3 for children.

GAME INFORMATION

Date: Thursday, March 16
Time: 7 p.m.
Opponent: Louisiana Tech
Location: Bud Walton Arena
Watch: SECN+
Listen: Razorback Sports Network from Learfield
Buy Tickets HERE
Arkansas Game Notes
Louisiana Tech Game Notes
Live Stats

STORYLINES

• Arkansas received the automatic qualifying bid to the WNIT as the SEC’s highest finisher among teams not chosen for the NCAA Tournament
• This first-round matchup between Arkansas and LA Tech marks the fourth game of the series and one in which the Razorbacks trail in, 0-3. Arkansas hasn’t played the Lady Techsters since 1983
• The WNIT appearance marks the program’s eighth appearance, as well as 26th postseason berth. When including WNIT, NWIT and AIAW tournaments, this is Arkansas’ 13th non-NCAA postseason tournament
• In the Mike Neighbors era, this is his fifth postseason appearance with Arkansas (three NCAA Tournaments including 2020 and now two WNITs)
• Only three schools in the SEC have qualified for postseason tournaments in each of the past five seasons with Arkansas being one of them. Tennessee and South Carolina are the other two
• The last time Arkansas made the WNIT in 2019, the Razorbacks hosted three games and made it to the third round. Arkansas defeated Houston (88-80 in OT) and UAB (100-52) before losing to TCU (82-78) in all games played in Fayetteville
• Arkansas is coming off a quarterfinal appearance at the SEC Tournament for the fourth time in the last five seasons. The Razorbacks defeated Missouri, 85-74, in the second round, but fell to No. 1, eventual SEC Champion South Carolina, 93-65, in the quarterfinals
• Arkansas’ win over the Tigers in the SEC Tournament marked the eighth SEC Tournament feat in the last six years
• The Razorbacks are 21-12, which marked the program’s 22nd 20-win season, third under Neighbors
• Arkansas finished the SEC slate 7-9 to come in eighth in the league. Historically for the program, seven wins is tied for the fourth most wins in SEC play. Only three other seasons have the Razorbacks had more wins in conference play, as Neighbors boasts two of the program’s four winning seasons in league games
• The team started the season 13-0 and finished the non-conference slate at 13-2, with its win total leading the country for majority of the non-conference season
• Erynn Barnum earned a spot on the All-SEC Second Team, while Saylor Poffenbarger was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team
• Barnum leads the team in scoring with 15.7 points. Her .558 field goal percentage is third in the SEC. She surpassed 1,000 points in her career and became the 18th Razorback to join the 1,000 points/500 rebound club
• Barnum was one of 10 candidates for the Katrina McClain Award, given to the best power forward in the country
• Samara Spencer is the second leading scorer with 14.2 points per game and leads the team in assists with 138. Her 4.3 assists per game is fifth in the SEC
• Makayla Daniels leads the team in steals with 54 and averages 13.0 points per game
• Daniels keeps moving up in career top 10-20 lists for the program, sitting at No. 12 in points (1,405), No. 4 in career starts (118), No. 8 in career 3-pointers (169) and No. 14 in career assists (305)
• Chrissy Carr logs 11.8 points per game and leads the squad with 77 3-pointers
• Poffenbarger leads the team in rebounding with 6.7 per game and has 37 blocks. She is now the record holder for single-season defensive rebounds with 193
• The team is second in least turnovers committed per game in the SEC with 13.7 per game
• Arkansas gets to the line 23.96 times per game, which is second in the conference and sixth in the country. The Razorbacks’ 15.73 makes from the free throw line per game is second in the SEC and 13th in the NCAA
• Arkansas leads the SEC in 3-point attempts per game (27.2), which is 10th in the country, and No. 2 in 3-pointers per game (8.2) in the league