FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas women's basketball team beefed up its NCAA Tournament resume Sunday afternoon.
The Razorbacks held LSU to a season-low in points and had four players score at least 12 points in a 63-41 victory over the Tigers in front of an announced crowd of 2,923 at Walton Arena.
Arkansas (16-10, 6-8 in SEC) maintained sole possession of seventh place in the league with the victory over an LSU team that came in having won 7 of 9 and averaging 63.8 points per game.
"I know Arkansas played in a very meaningful basketball game on February 22 and that's a very good feeling," said Razorbacks Coach Jimmy Dykes, whose team shot 45 percent, outrebounded LSU 45-39 and held a 15-4 advantage on second-chance points.
Arkansas, which hasn't made the NCAA Tournament since the 2011-2012 season, set the tone early Sunday.
The Razorbacks scored the game's first 10 points and led 17-2 seven minutes into the first half.
LSU (15-11, 9-5) cut Arkansas' lead down to eight at halftime, but the Razorbacks outscored the Tigers 9-3 at the outset of the second half to regain control.
"That was big for us because sometimes we go on scoring droughts and we let people come back," Arkansas senior Jhasmin Bowen said. "We were able to keep our composure."
The Tigers pulled within 47-39 on a three-pointer from DaShawn Harden with 7:12 remaining, but Arkansas outscored LSU 13-0 to push the game out of reach at 60-39 with 1:28 left.
"We were extremely tough today," Dykes said. "LSU is a good team, and they have been on a roll. They can really score and we had the locked up. We refused to give in."
Jessica Jackson had 13 rebounds -- 11 defensively -- to go along with 17 points, the eighth times she's had at least 10 points and 10 rebounds this season. Melissa Wolff added 9 rebounds with her 12 points and Bowen scored 13 and had 8 rebounds.
Kelsey Brooks led all scorers with 20 points, and Calli Berna finished with nine assists.
"We all knew that we really needed this game," Bowen said. "So we were all dialed in for the game. We knew one person couldn't do it. We knew two of us couldn't do it. We knew all of us would have to pitch in."
Harden led LSU with 14 points and Danielle Ballard scored 13 for the Tigers, who shot 20 percent in their 17-point second half.
"Arkansas did a great job of executing their game plan," LSU Coach Nikki Caldwell said. "Each player on their team understands their role and their responsibility and they were able to play at a high level of intensity on the defensive end disrupting our rhythm.
"There were a lot of opportunities for us to cut into the lead. Each time, it was a play call going against us or them making a big play to cancel out our run."
One thing neither team did well was shoot free throws.
Arkansas was 12 of 24 from the line, including 9 of 20 in the second half.
LSU was 3 of 11.
"Am I disappointed in our free throw shooting? That's an understatement," Dykes said. "We gave away a possible 15 or 16 points which is unacceptable.
"So it was a complete of a game as we have played in a long time with the exception of the missed free throws."
Arkansas has two regular-season SEC games remaining, at home on Thursday against No. 10 Kentucky and on the road Sunday at Missouri. ESPN projected the Razorbacks as a No. 11 seed in the field last week.
"We need another win or two," Dykes said. "So if this [Sunday] was a must win, it was a must win and we got it done."
NO. 14 MISSISSIPPI ST. 57, ALABAMA 55
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Dominique Dillingham came up with the key block with :06 left to help Mississippi State escape Tuscaloosa with a 57-55 victory over Alabama.
Victoria Vivians’ jumper with 1:26 left gave Mississippi State a five-point lead, 57-52, but the Bulldogs did not score again and Alabama rallied. Sharin Rivers knocked down a three-pointer with :55 left in the game to pull the Crimson Tide within two, 57-55, but Karyla Middlebrook had her shot to tie the game blocked by Dillingham, who grabbed the rebound to allow the Bulldogs (25-4, 10-4 SEC) to run out the clock.
Ashley Williams led Alabama (13-16, 2-12) with 21 points.
NO. 15 TEXAS A&M 66,
FLORIDA 46
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Courtney Williams led a balanced attack on Sunday with 11 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists as Texas A&M beat Florida. Achiri Ade added 10 points, six rebounds and four steals for the Aggies (22-6, 10-4 SEC), who won their 17th consecutive game at Reed Arena. Khaalia Hillsman and Courtney Walker scored nine apiece, and Jordan Jones had eight points and six assists.
Texas A&M stretched its lead to 54-33 midway through the second half with a 15-2 run. Florida (12-15, 4-10) got no closer than 56-41 on Ronni Williams’ basket with 6:02 left.
Williams had 14 points and Haley Lorenzen scored 10 to lead the Gators.
Sports on 02/23/2015