Arkansas women's basketball survives Auburn rally, snaps four-game losing streak
One week after letting a 19-point lead slip away in an overtime loss to Ole Miss, Arkansas women's basketball nearly suffered a similar fate Sunday. The Razorbacks led at Auburn by as many as 15, and the Tigers mounted a second-half comeback that almost doomed Arkansas.
This time, though, the Razorbacks held on. Arkansas snapped its four-game skid with the 54-51 win.
"How sad I was and how devastated we were the other night (after Ole Miss), we're that happy today," Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors said.
Erynn Barnum led the Razorbacks (18-7, 5-5 SEC) with 14 points. Saylor Poffenbarger had her fourth double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. It was her sixth game with 10 or more boards.
LAST TIME OUT:Arkansas women's basketball lets 19-point lead slip, Razorbacks fall to Ole Miss in OT
MEN'S HOOPS:Tale of two bigs: How Arkansas basketball's forwards can change game — for better or worse
Auburn's offense struggles early
Auburn's offense is one of the least productive in the SEC. In conference play, the Tigers (13-9, 3-7) are the league's second-worst team in points per game (58.7) and field goal percentage (35.8%). Arkansas took advantage of Auburn's early offensive struggles.
Auburn made one of 16 shots from the field in the first quarter. The Tigers recovered, making 53.8% in the second quarter, but Arkansas managed to put together runs and keep separation.
Part of Arkansas' success on defense was limiting Auburn star Aicha Coulibaly. She averages more than 17 points per game, but she was 0-for-6 in the first half and finished with one point.
Auburn's second-half comeback
Auburn turned it around in the second half. The Tigers outscored the Razorbacks 15-10 in the third quarter to shrink what was once a 15-point deficit to eight.
Auburn then opened the fourth quarter with a 7-1 run to cut Arkansas' lead to two with seven minutes remaining. Auburn tied the game twice in the final five minutes, but never took a lead.
Foul-heavy game comes down to free throws
Arkansas and Auburn combined for 54 fouls and 66 free throws. With players in foul trouble early, Arkansas had to turn to bench players such as Emrie Ellis and Avery Hughes, who hadn't played in weeks.
The Razorbacks actually had a poor night from the line, going 23-for-39 (59%). But when it mattered most, Arkansas got the free throws it needed.
With seven seconds left and Arkansas up one, Poffenbarger was whistled for a common foul that was upgraded to an intentional foul after review, but Auburn missed both free throws. On the ensuing inbounds play, the Tigers lost possession on a five-second violation. Auburn fouled Makayla Daniels, who made both her free throws, and Coulibaly's last-second 3-pointer missed.
"I still don't really feel like we closed it out; I feel like we just kind of survived it," Neighbors said. "But we did find a way to win, and we did make improvement."
A Twitter List by christinalong00
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas women's basketball hangs on to beat Auburn
