UA women hoping to remain unbeaten

Malica Monk (3) of Arkansas collects a rebound around Jaycee Bradley (left) and Bridget Arens (22) of South Dakota Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, during the second half of play in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

The Arkansas women's basketball team is off to a 4-0 start for the second time in the last three years, but coach Jimmy Dykes said this group is much better in several areas.

"We feel like we've beaten back to back, two really good teams," Dykes said. "We're happy with where we are defensively. So far, we've shot the ball better than the previous two teams. They are playing very hard and being very coachable. This is the best conditioned team we've had since I've been here."

Arkansas vs. Memphis women

WHEN 6:30 p.m., Friday

WHERE Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nev.

RECORDS Stetson 4-0; Arkansas 4-0

SERIES Arkansas leads, 12-8

RADIO KABZ-FM 103.7 in Little Rock; KQSM-FM 92.1 in Fayetteville; KFPW-AM 1230 and KFPW-FM 94.5 in Fort Smith; KURM-AM 790 and KURM-FM 100.3 in Rogers

TELEVISION None.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS

ARKANSAS

POS.^NAME^HT.^YR.^PPG^RPG

G Malica Monk 5-8 So.^12.8^3.0

G Jailyn Mason Fr.;5-9^7.5^3.0

C Alecia Cooley 6-3 Sr.^11.0^5.8

F Jessica Jackson 6-3 Sr.^16.5^7.0

F Bailey Zimmerman 6-0 So.^6.0^5.0

COACH Jimmy Dykes (34-32 in third season at Arkansas)

MEMPHIS

POS^NAME^HT.^YR.^PPG^RPG

G Taylor Barnes^5-8^Fr.^8.5^3.0

G Breigha Wilder-Cochran^5-9^Jr.^6.8^4.0

F Taylor Williams^6-1^Sr.^11.5^6.0

F Cheyenee Creighton^6-1^Jr.^14.3^7.8

C Brianna Porter^6-3^Soph.^3.3^2.0

COACH Melissa McFerrin (142-118) in eighth season at Memphis)

Memphis^Arkansas

58.3^Points for^78.0

57.5^Points against^53.5

.422^FG pct.^462

.320^3-pt. FG pct.^435

.710^FT pct.^657

CHALK TALK Arkansas has won the last nine meetings. … The last meeting was a 67-47 win in Fayetteville in the 2012-13 season in the WNIT. … The Razorbacks will play either Navy or Nevada on Saturday in the second round. … Senior Jessica Jackson has scored in double figures in each of Arkansas’ first four games. … The Razorbacks is off to a 4-0 start for the second time in three seasons under coach Jimmy Dykes.

— Paul Boyd • @NWAPAULB

The Razorbacks have only trailed for a little more than seven total minutes in their first four games, winning by an average margin of 23 points all at home. They will try their hand at a neutral site, facing Memphis (2-2) tonight in the Nugget Classic in Reno, Nev. Arkansas will face Nevada or Navy on Saturday.

Dykes said playing on the road for the first time is another hurdle for his team.

"Memphis is a good team," Dykes said. "You look at the league they're coming out of. They beat Missouri State and we know how good a team they are, won at Illinois. Depending on what happens, we could play Navy that plays a difficult style or Nevada on their home floor. The first time on the road, we'll have a lot of challenges to work through."

Senior Jessica Jackson leads the team, averaging 16.5 points and seven rebounds per game, but she's had plenty of help.

Sophomore Malica Monk scored a career-high 18 points in Monday's win over Stetson and has been solid thus far for the Razorbacks.The 5-foot-5 point guard ranked second in scoring on the team, averaging 12.8 points to go with 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Monk's also making 60 percent of her shots from the floor and leading the team in minutes played.

"Malica Monk has been very good so far," Dykes said. "She has almost twice as many assists as turnovers and automatic at the free throw line. She's made that point guard spot a strength of ours."

Sophomore Briunna Freeman has also been a spark plug off the bench, averaging nine points in three games. She didn't play Monday because of an injury suffered in Arkansas' win over South Dakota.

"She has probably made the most progress," Dykes said. "Her energy defensively has been big. She's a really explosive athlete coming off the bench. She's an elite SEC athlete and gives us versatility being able to guard anyone from a one through a four."

Freshman Aaliyah Wilson, a McDonald's All-American from Muskogee, Okla., has been slowed by an illness, but finally made her collegiate debut on Monday. The 5-10 swing player scored three points in seven minutes against Stetson, but Dykes expects those minutes to grow.

"She's far from being in game shape," Dykes said. "We're going to bring her along and we think she has a chance to be a really good SEC basketball player."

Sports on 11/25/2016