Dauda Makes Layup at Buzzer; Hogs Beat Illinois

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Arkansas women’s basketball team (10-3) won a thriller in their first of two games at the West Palm Beach Classic, defeating Illinois, 60-59, at the buzzer. Down by one with nine seconds left, Samara Spencer found an open Maryam Dauda under the basket who made the layup with less than a second left on the clock. The Floridians in Taliah Scott and Spencer led the way with 17 points, a piece.

Dauda helped the Hogs get started with a layup and Spencer followed with a 3-pointer and a layup to go up 7-0. Illinois responded with a 6-0 run, while the Hogs were in a scoring drought for nearly three minutes. Makayla Daniels broke the drought with a layup off a quick steal and Scott followed with a jumper. The Fighting Illini took the lead for the first time of the game off two free throws, and the lead changed twice until Carly Keats had a layup and Scott made a jumper to help the Hogs go up 17-14 with 31 seconds left in the quarter. Illinois came up with a layup right before the buzzer sounded, but Arkansas was ahead, 17-16.