Get to know the Arkansas women’s basketball team

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas women’s basketball coach Mike Neighbors is entering his seventh season in charge of the program. Here is a rundown of each player on his roster for the 2023-24 season:

Taliah Scott

G | Fr. | 5-9

Orange Park, Fla. | St. Johns Country Day School

THE SKINNY

Highly touted recruit in the 2023 class, ranked No. 11 and a five-star prospect, according to the HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings – ESPNW 100 … Named McDonald’s All-American … Honored as the Gatorade Florida Girls Basketball Player of the Year … Naismith High School Girls Basketball All-America Honorable Mention … All-First Coast Player of the Year … Was named to the 2023 Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Preseason Watch List … Finished her high school with 2,735 points, the third-most points scored by a Northeast Florida girls basketball player … Led the country in scoring for the majority of the year during her senior campaign, averaging 36.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 3.0 steals per game for St. John’s Country Day School … Racked up 47 points in her final high school game in the state semifinals … Participated in the High School Slam 3-point shooting contest … As a junior averaged 31.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.4 steals per game … Hit the 1,000-point mark in her career as just a sophomore.

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Samara Spencer

G | Jr. | 5-7

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | St. Thomas Aquinas HS

THE SKINNY

Was the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2022 and named to the SEC All-Freshman Team … Earned SEC Freshman of the Week 4 times … Started in all 37 games, which tied a school record … Led Arkansas in assists (4.2), minutes per game (33.9) and field goal attempts per game (12.4) … Also finished second on the team in scoring (14.4) … Made several individual season top 10 lists, including No. 7 in total assists (154) … In the SEC, finished fourth in minutes, fifth in assists and free throw attempts (182), seventh in field goal attempts (459), 10th in assist/turnover ratio (1.4), 12th in 3-pointers per game (1.8) and 15th in scoring … Nationally, was ranked 40th in total assists and 47th in free throw attempts … Finished the season with 27 double-digit scoring games, eight 20-point performances, two double-doubles and 13 contests with 5+ assists … 39.9 FG%, 32.3 3FG%, 54.9 FT% … Started the season off with a bang after 15 points and four assists at Arkansas – Pine Bluff … Registered 22 points, seven rebounds and seven dimes vs. Kent State … Logged 27 points vs. Northern Arizona in the Paradise Jam in the U.S.V.I. … Earned a career-high 32 points off 10-of-17 shooting from the field, 6-of-8 from 3-point, on her birthday against Oral Roberts.

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Saylor Poffenbarger

G | R-So. | 6-2

Middletown, Md. | Middletown HS / UConn

THE SKINNY

SEC All-Freshman Team selection … Five-time SEC Freshman of the Week, which broke a school record and led the conference … Started in all 37 games, tied for school record … Crashed the boards well, leading the team in rebounds (6.9), as well as blocks (40) … Broke the single-season defensive rebound record with 225 defensive boards, while also becoming the first Hog to pull down 200+ defensive rebounds (since stat has been tracked) … In SEC, ranked No. 3 in defensive rebounds/game (6.1), No. 8 in minutes/game (32.2), No. 11 in rebounds/game and No. 13 in blocks/game (1.1) … Finished with 13 double-digit scoring games, nine 10+ rebounding contests, five 5+ assist games and four double-doubles … 33.1 FG%, 22.9 3FG%, 70.5 FT% … Earned first career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 13 rebounds with five assists vs. Oral Roberts … Followed that up with her second consecutive double-double with 17 points and 12 boards against Lamar.

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Cristina Sánchez Cerqueira

F | Fr. | 6-1

Granada, Spain

THE SKINNY

A member of the Spanish National Team … Played at FIBA U18 3×3 World Cup and European Youth Olympic Festival 3×3 in Maribor, Slovenia … Selected for workouts for six consecutive years (U12, U13, U14, U15, U16 and U17 teams) and played an unofficial tournament on the U15 national team … With Segle XXI, played in 26 games in 2022-23, averaging 6.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game … Logged a double-double vs. Mataro with 17 points and 11 rebounds … Efficient rebounder with 15 games with 5+ boards with Segle XXI in 2022-23 … Earned gold and silver medals at the Andalucian Cup U14 … Chosen to the Andalucías Team three times and won a silver and bronze medal at the national cup … Best rebounder on the U14 nationals club cup … Was selected to the Granadas Team six times … Picked for the NBA Academy games in Atlanta.

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Sasha Goforth

G | R-Jr. | 6-1

Fayetteville | Fayetteville HS / Oregon State

THE SKINNY

Transferred to Arkansas after playing freshman season at Oregon State, where she made the PAC-12 All-Freshman team. … Sat out last season. … Made an immediate impact in her first season home … The only Hog to start all 32 games … Averaged 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 29.3 minutes per game … 43.6 FG %, 29.9 3FG %, 60.6 FT % … 21 games in double figures, one game with 20+ … Was a shot-blocking machine during her first season on the Hill, rejecting a whopping 66 shots … That mark is the third-best mark in program history, trailing only legendary Hog post players Delmonica DeHorney and Lauren Ervin … Her 2.1 BPG average was good for fourth in the SEC, trailing only Tamari Key, Aliyah Boston and Jenna Staiti, all post players … Blocked 3+ shots in 11 games … Helped Arkansas lock up its NCAA Tournament spot, dropping in a season-high 20 points at Mississippi State … Had 11 points and five blocks in Arkansas’ OT win over Mizzou in the SEC Tournament … Hit the decisive three-pointer against Jackson State in Arkansas’ 66-62 win … Dropped in 18 in Arkansas’ comeback win at Missouri … Double-doubled against Mississippi State at home, going for 13 points and 12 boards … Helped Arkansas hold off Auburn while missing three starters, scoring 16 points and grabbing five rebounds.

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Karley Johnson

G | So. | 5-9

Oklahoma City, Okla. | Mustang HS

THE SKINNY

Played in 10 games as a true freshman … Prior to Arkansas, recognized as a 2022 McDonald’s All-American nominee … Tabbed a four-time Oklahoman’s Super 5 Honorable Mention choice (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019) … Two-time VYPE Top 100 selection (2021, 2020) … Named to the All-City (Little City) First Team in 2021 and Second Team in 2019 and 2020 … Transferred to Mustang HS prior to her junior season, leading the Broncos to a No. 12 state ranking, No. 5 Oklahoma Division 6A ranking and No. 6 Oklahoma City ranking … As a senior, averaged 12.3 points per game for a 46% field goal percentage, as well as 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game … Takes charges when needed, ranked second in the state of Oklahoma in taking charges with 0.7 per game as a senior … Tallied the 11th most total free throws in the state (80) in 2021-22 … Averaged double digits in scoring as a junior with 10.2 PPG … Eclipsed 1,000 points during her sophomore season.

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Loren Lindsey

G | So. | 5-11

Fayetteville | Fayetteville HS

THE SKINNY

Played in nine games as a true freshman walk-on … Made collegiate debut in game against Central Arkansas … Played in a season-high four minutes at Little Rock … Appeared in two SEC games and two of four Postseason WNIT contests … Pulled down her first rebound, defensive, against Louisiana Tech in the Postseason WNIT First Round … Prior to Arkansas, tabbed to the All Conference 6A West All-Defensive Team … Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Player of the Week on Feb. 2, 2022.

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Carly Keats

G | So. | 5-8

Choctaw, Miss. | Neshoba Central HS / Jones College

THE SKINNY

At Jones College, named to the All-Region 23 Team … Started in 28 of 30 games for the Bobcats as a freshman, playing 27.6 minutes per game … Made 55 triples for a 34.8 percentage from beyond the arc … Averaged 9.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game … In high school, played for head coach Jason Broom, leading the Rockets to a perfect 33-0 record and a 5A State Championship in Mississippi … As a senior, averaged 14.2 points and 4.0 assists per game … Logged 13.9 points per game on 54 percent shooting with 3.0 assists per game as a junior.

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Maryam Dauda

F | R-So. | 6-4

Bentonville | Bentonville HS

THE SKINNY

Appeared in 35 games off the bench … Finished second in offensive rebounds (45) and fourth in blocks (22) on the team … Logged four double-digit scoring games and seven 5+ rebound contests … 42.0 FG%, 25.0 3FG%, 74.2 FT% … Logged her first collegiate double-digit scoring game with 10 points and five boards vs. Central Arkansas … Delivered six points and five rebounds against Kent State … Pulled down seven rebounds against Troy … Logged a near double-double of 10 points and eight rebounds with two blocks in 22 minutes against Oral Roberts … Earned a career-high 11 points with matching a career-best eight boards against Arkansas State … Recorded a 3-pointer to log four points off the bench at No. 16 Creighton … Matched a career-high 11 points off 5-of-7 shooting, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks in just 13 minutes at No. 3 LSU … In high school., was the 13th ranked player and top-ranked post player in the ESPN HoopGurlz 2021 recruiting rankings at the time of her signing … Consensus five-star recruit and a McDonald’s All-American in 2021 … Naismith High School Player of the Year Semifinalist following her senior season … Her father played professional basketball in Belgium … Born in Nigeria and moved to the U.S. when she was 12

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Jenna Lawrence

F | Fr. | 6-3

Farmington | Farmington HS

THE SKINNY

Four-star, No. 61-ranked player, according to the 2023 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings – ESPNW 100 … Earned all-conference, all-state and all-tournament honors as a senior at Farmington High School, averaging 18.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game as well as 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks per game … Knocked down 99 3-point attempts for 41 percent and was an 83 percent free throw shooter … Named Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Player of the Year … Eclipsed 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds during her senior year … McDonald’s All-American nominee … Coming off the 4A girls state championship, as the Lady Cardinals finished the season on a 26-game winning streak to end up 36-1 … Named state tournament MVP … Had experience winning state championships at Melbourne High School as well, leading the school to a Class 2A state title during her sophomore season

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Makayla Daniels

G | Gr. | 5-8

Frederick, Md. | Frederick HS

THE SKINNY

Started in all 34 games she appeared in … Paced the team in steals with 56 total, while also third on the team in scoring with 13.2 points per game … Cracked top 10 in scoring at Arkansas, registering a career-high 449 of her points this season with 1,463 career points … Logged 27 double-digit scoring games and 12 4+ assists contests … In the SEC, finished sixth in 3-point percentage (.338), seventh in 3-pointers made per game (2.1) and minutes per game (32.4), eighth in free throw percentage (.768), 15th in steals (1.65) and 18th in scoring … 35.7 FG%, 33.8 3FG%, 76.8 FT% … As a junior, became a vocal team leader in her third season, starting 28 games … Averaged 14.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 30.1 minutes per game … As a sophomore, started all 28 games at the lead guard spot for Arkansas … Averaged 11.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 28.6 minutes per game. As a freshman, started all 32 games for the Razorbacks … Averaged 9.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 22.5 minutes per game … Named Maryland’s Miss Basketball following her senior season at Frederick High School, averaging 21.4 points per game … Lived in Japan for seven years, as well as Arizona, North Carolina and Maryland.

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Maryn Archer

G | Fr. | 5-7

Derby, Kan. | Derby HS

THE SKINNY

Enrolled at Arkansas last January, but did not dress for any games … Prior to Arkansas, Prep Girls listed her as the 29th-ranked player in the nation … Blue Star ranked her as the No. 75th-ranked player nationally … Voted to the Run for Roses All-Tournament First Team, dropping 31 points on just 11 shots to lead her AAU team, SW Elite, to the championship game in Louisville … Also won the Run for Roses Championship game in 2022 … Played on two different high school teams, leading those squads to state during her freshman and junior seasons … Paced Derby High School in assists and steals amid her junior year, logging 10.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.8 steals per game … Awarded the DerbyInformer.com Female Comeback Player of the Year in March 2022.

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Emrie Ellis

F | Jr. | 6-3

Vanoss, Okla. | Vanoss HS

THE SKINNY

Played in 28 games all off the bench … Saw more minutes down the stretch of the season … 31.3 FG%, 30.8 3FG%, 62.5 FT% … Earned a season-high seven points with three rebounds and two blocks vs. Texas A&M … Appeared in all four Postseason WNIT games, registering two points in the Louisiana Tech and SFA games and pulling down four defensive rebounds at Kansas … As a freshman, earned a role off the bench during her first season … Played in 27 games … Averaged 2.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.8 blocks and 10.8 minutes per game … 38.8 FG %, 12.5 3FG %, 69.2 FT % … One game in double-figures … Came up huge in Arkansas’ win over Auburn, scoring a career-best 11 points while pulling down five boards … Prior to Arkansas was the No. 48 overall recruit in ASGR’s 2021 recruiting rankings … Named Ada News All-Area Co-Player of the Year in 2021 after leading Vanoss High School to the Class A State Final.