Arkansas blows big lead, falls to Rebels in OT

FAYETTEVILLE — Ole Miss overcame a 19-point halftime deficit and defeated Arkansas’ ladies’s basketball staff 76-73 in time beyond regulation Sunday inside Bud Walton Enviornment.

The Rebels trailed by two factors with seven seconds remaining, however went coast-to-coast and compelled an additional interval with a buzzer-beating layup by Tyia Singleton. Ole Miss (18-4, 7-2 SEC) then outscored the Razorbacks 12-9 in time beyond regulation to finish the comeback.

“I am gut-wrenched,” Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors stated. “I really feel prefer it all falls on me as their head coach while you’re up 19 to get them dwelling…to inform them the proper factor. And I have never discovered that widespread denominator to do it. I take it very onerous and I’m gut-wrenched proper now, possibly extra so than any sport that I’ve ever been part of.

“That’s how a lot this sport might have meant to us. To me, if it doesn’t suggest something, it isn’t going to harm.”

It was the fourth straight loss for Arkansas (17-7, 4-5 SEC) and second in time beyond regulation this season. Three video games through the shedding skid have been determined by one possession, the Razorbacks falling quick in every.

“We’re not in panic mode,” Neighbors stated. “To be the place we’re at with the stuff that we nonetheless have forward of us, it will positive be a disgrace to begin blaming one another and packing it in and begin planning for subsequent 12 months. 

“There’s nonetheless an excessive amount of forward of us.”

The loss got here regardless of a profession day from senior ahead Erynn Barnum, who scored 37 factors. It was the very best particular person scoring sport since Razorbacks nice Chelsea Dungee had 38 towards Ole Miss in February 2021.

Barnum grew to become one in all seven gamers in program historical past with at the least 37 factors in a sport.

“She kicked our butt,” Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin stated. “We’ve got numerous respect for Erynn. We talked about her. We knew that she might damage us, however, I imply, she obtained scorching from the three and we weren’t anticipating that.

“I simply informed the staff we will need to stay with that.”

Barnum led the Razorbacks with three makes from behind the arc whereas taking pictures 13 of 21 total. She gave Arkansas a go-ahead rating late with 16 seconds left within the fourth quarter, however Ole Miss answered with the tying layup to ship the sport to time beyond regulation.

“She’s wholesome and our youngsters trust enjoying by means of her,” Neighbors stated. “That could be a large sport.”

The Razorbacks seemed to be properly on their option to a win after outscoring Ole Miss 21-4 within the second quarter, rallying behind the vitality of an introduced crowd of 6,677. Neighbors’ staff closed the body with a 13-0 run through which they held Ole Miss scoreless for the ultimate six minutes. 

Arkansas led 39-20 at halftime due to 18 first-half factors from Barnum.

Ole Miss got here out stronger within the second half, aided by a former Razorback prepared the Rebels to the comeback victory. Marquesha Davis, who graduated from Springdale Excessive and spent two seasons at Arkansas earlier than transferring to Ole Miss, scored 15 of her team-high 20 factors within the second half.

“It felt good to have the kind of sport I had as a result of I obtained to do it in entrance of all of my household and pals,” Davis stated.

The Rebels chipped away on the Razorbacks’ lead within the third quarter, holding Arkansas to only 11 factors. Arkansas’ lead narrowed to 50-39 coming into the fourth quarter.

Ole Miss outscored the Razorbacks 25-14 within the closing interval en path to forcing time beyond regulation. It was carried out largely from establishing dominance on the glass.

The groups have been knotted at 18 rebounds apiece at halftime, however the Rebels completed the sport with a plus-17 rebound margin and 21 second-chance factors.

“What you noticed within the second half was no extra stop, no extra meltdowns, resiliency,” McPhee-McCuin stated. “We do that factor the place we wish to get three stops within the row. It is referred to as a kill. We knew we wanted to get a number of kills, and that led us to some simple offensive baskets.”

Arkansas took a 71-70 benefit with 2:11 left to play in time beyond regulation behind a jumper from Makayla Daniels. However the Rebels closed the interval on a 6-2 run to return away with a win.

The Razorbacks are scheduled to subsequent play at Auburn on Feb. 5.