Wildcats Drop 13-Point Decision in Last Game of Arkansas Trip

Sunday, November 14

Fayetteville, Ark.

2:00 p.m.

Davidson College

0-2

Arkansas

2-0

Davidson

Arkansas

Sophia Aleksandravicius had her 18th career double-digit game in points, with 18 at Arkansas on Sunday.

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

Wildcats Drop 13-Point Decision in Last Game of Arkansas Trip

11/14/2010 6:24:48 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin -- Assistant SID

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Sophia Aleksandravicius (Pound Ridge, N.Y.) and Kristen Johnsen (Wayne, Pa.) combined for 30 points, but Davidson was done in by 33 turnovers as the Wildcats dropped a 68-55 decision at Arkansas in women's basketball action on Sunday afternoon at the Bud Walton Arena.

Davidson fell to 0-2 to start the 2010-11 campaign as it finished up the program's first trip to the state of Arkansas.

Aleksandravicius tied for game-high honors with 18 points, but got just two of those in the second half as she was held to two shots the whole half. The sophomore post player also hauled in a team-high six boards and picked up all three of the Wildcats' blocked shots.

Johnsen clipped the double-digit mark for the second straight game, eighth of her career, with 12 points as she was perfect from the field. The junior went 4-of-4 from the floor and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe, while also filling the stat sheet with five boards, four assists and three steals.

Arkansas (2-0) put four players in double digits, led by Lyndsay Harris' 18 points. She got 15 of those from behind the arc on 5-of-11 shooting. C'eira Ricketts followed with 14 points.

Johnsen helped the Wildcats cut a seven-point halftime deficit to one, 37-36, by scoring six points in an opening 10-4 run to start the new period.

But it was short-lived, as Arkansas went on for a game-changing 12-0 run of its own in a three-minute spurt, while then turning up the pressure on Davidson defensively. During an eight-minute stretch, the Wildcats were forced into numerous turnovers by a full-court press and had to burn two timeouts. The Wildcats were held without a field goal for nearly eight minutes, scoring just three points from the free throw line during the drought.

In the meantime, the Razorbacks had pushed a one-point lead out to 18 at 55-37 with 9:38 left in the game.

A pair of Johnsen free throws with 2:19 left got the 'Cats back to within nine at 61-52. Arkansas though, pushed its lead back out to double digits on its next possession and finished out scoring seven of the final 10 points for the 68-55 win.

Aleksandravicius dominated inside and kept Davidson close throughout the first period. The sophomore forward hit four of her first six field goals and all three free throws for 11 early points as the 'Cats trailed just 18-16 midway through the half. She finished 6-of-10 for the half, hitting all four free throws, for 16 points.

Later in the half, Aleksandravicius' second three-point play of the period brought the 'Cats back to within three, 27-24, after Arkansas jumped back out to a six-point lead. Then thirty seconds later, the sophomore dished off a nice back-door pass to Johnsen and the 'Cats were down just one, 27-26, with 2:30 on the clock.

The Razorbacks took advantage of a couple Wildcat turnovers in the closing two minutes for a 33-26 halftime lead.

Davidson shot the ball well, shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 13-for-16 from the charity stripe. The 'Cats again showed their unselfishness, dishing out assists on 16 of their 20 field goals. led by Laura Murray's (Harrisburg, Pa.) six dimes.

Davidson returns home for its home-opener on Friday, Nov. 19 when the 'Cats play host to William & Mary at 7 p.m. in John M. Belk Arena. The two teams played at Williams & Mary last year, with the Wildcats dropping a 74-63 decision.

GAME NOTES: Today's game was the first meeting between both schools ... senior Ashley Lax closed out her homecoming trip with six points ... her two three-pointers in the game moved the senior into fourth place all-time (141) in the Wildcat record books ... Johnsen's four assists were a career-best ... Davidson matched Arkansas in points in the paint, scoring 30.