Razorbacks Use Big Second Half to Take Down Alabama

Maryam Dauda breaks 35-year school record for blocks, Spencer sets season high

Daniel Shi | Jan 14, 2024

Razorbacks Use Big Second Half to Take Down Alabama /

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Arkansas Razorbacks

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Arkansas overcame a slow start to rout the Alabama Crimson Tide on its home floor, 77-59.

The Razorbacks started behind 12-2, including 1-for-15 from the floor, but others stepped up once more in its third straight game without Taliah Scott. Samara Spencer finished with a season-high 31 points and Maryam Dauda finished a basket short of an unconventional triple-double. She finished with eight points, 12 rebounds and a school-record 10 blocks, a record that has stood since 1987.

A three from Spencer with 2:08 left to play in the first quarter seemed to get the Hogs into rhythm as the Razorbacks ended the quarter on a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to just 24-20.

The Razorbacks spent much of its defensive efforts on Aaliyah Nye who came into the game shooting over 44% from deep. The Hogs held her to just six shot attempts and five points.

Neither team could find serious offensive momentum in the second quarter, with Alabama going into halftime with a 32-30 lead. The real momentum swing came after the end of the first half.

Three straight layups and a Spencer triple from the top of the key gave the Hogs its first lead of the day since it was 2-1 as Arkansas started the second half on a 15-5 run to grab its own double-digit lead after being behind early, 47-37.

The Crimson Tide managed one last fight back, pulling back to within two at the start of the fourth quarter with a three from Jessica Timmons, but Arkansas held the Tide to just 12 fourth-quarter points for a rout. Spencer took over the game with aggressive drives, scoring 10 in the quarter, including 6-for-6 at the charity stripe. Threes from Makayla Daniels and Saylor Poffenbarger stretched the lead up to 14 less than 3:30 minutes after the Crimson Tide had cut it back to two. Neighbors tried to draw up a final play for Dauda to get the triple-double but to no avail.