FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas women’s basketball team is set for a big week of matchups, starting with a trip to Tallahassee for the SEC/ACC Challenge against No. 15 Florida State on Thursday, Nov. 30. The game will be tipped off at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
GAME INFORMATION
Dates: Thursday, Nov. 30
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Opponent: No. 15 Florida State
Location: Donald L. Tucker Center (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Watch: ESPN2
Listen: Razorback Sports Network from Learfield
Arkansas Game Notes
Florida State Notes
Live Stats
STORYLINES
- Arkansas started the season 6-0 for the second consecutive year, 11th time in school history, before losing to Marquette in the Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off Shell Division Championship game. The Hogs went 1-1 in the tournament to start the year 6-1
- The Hogs are in the most daunting part of their non-conference schedule, beginning with the SEC/ACC Challenge game at No. 15 Florida State on Thursday and ending with playing host to No. 2 UCLA on Sunday afternoon
- The SEC/ACC Challenge is in its first year, as the Hogs have drawn No. 15 Florida State, who finished last year fifth in the ACC and earned their 10th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament
- In the Mike Neighbors era at Arkansas, the program has picked up seven big, ranked wins over AP ranked opponents, including six in the top 16. Arkansas will have the opportunity to increase that total for Coach Neighbors to seven with a victory on the road in Tallahassee
- Improving to 7-1 would become the second-best start for Coach Neighbors during his time at Arkansas
- The Hogs leading scorer since the first game of the season has been Taliah Scott. She leads the SEC with 23.1 points per game along with a league’s most free throw makes (42) and free throw attempts (48). Her scoring average is the ninth best in the country, while her point total of 162 is the third best. She is fourth in free throw makes, eighth in field goal attempts (123), ninth in free throw attempts and 13th in field goals made (55) in the NCAA
- Scott has also been named SEC Freshman of the Week twice this season, most recently Co-Freshman of the Week this past week
- Saylor Poffenbarger continues to be show how she is one of the best rebounders in the country. She is leading the team in rebounding with 11.1 per game, which is also first in the SEC and 12th in the country. Her 9.1 defensive boards per game is also pacing the SEC and is third in the NCAA. She has logged four games with 10+ rebounds, including 21 in the season-opening game vs. ULM. Poffenbarger also has 10 blocks on the season
- Samara Spencer has a team’s most assists with 23. Her 273 career assists is No. 17 on the all-time career list at Arkansas. She is up to 989 points, needing just 11 more to be the No. 33rd member of the 1,000-point club at Arkansas, and will potentially be able accomplish that milestone in her home state
- Makayla Daniels and Poffenbarger are tied for a team’s most steals with 10 a piece
- The Hogs were picked to finish sixth and seventh in the SEC Preseason Media and Coaches Poll, respectively
- Daniels was selected on the All-SEC Preseason Second Team, as chosen by the league’s coaches. She is averaging 11.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Her 1,542 career points is the 10th most points scored by an Arkansas women’s basketball player in school history
- Additionally, Daniels broke the school record for career starts with 129 on Saturday vs. Marquette. She has started in every game she has appeared in since her freshman year
SCOUTING FLORIDA STATE
- FSU is coming into the week ranked No. 15, holding a 5-1 record on the season
- The Seminoles have picked up two SEC wins this season (vs. Tennessee and at Florida), but lost its first game vs. Stanford at the Ball Dawgs Classic last week, 100-88
- Last season, the Seminoles were 23-10, 12-6 in the ACC, to finish fifth in the league. The team was the No. 7 seed in the Iowa City Regional, losing to Georgia, 66-54
- The Seminoles were picked to finish fifth in the ACC, while two players were chosen on the Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason All-ACC Team. The 2023 WBCA National Freshman of the Year in Ta’Niya Latson and the reigning ACC Most Improved Player Makayla Timpson were selected. Latson averaged 21.3 points per game along with having logged 90 assists and 51 steals, while Timpson registered 13.2 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game, 69 blocks and 35 steals, all last season
- This season, Latson leads the Seminoles with 18.6 points per game, while Timpson continues to dominate on the boards with 9.3 rebounds per game and 19 total blocks
- O’Mariah Gordon has a team’s most 23 assists and Sara Bejedi has a team-leading 12 steals
- Brooke Wyckoff leads the Seminoles in her third season at her alma mater. Wyckoff served as the associate head coach and interim head coach for Florida State before taking over fully. She is coming off having led the Seminoles to their 10th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance
