FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas women’s basketball team found out its opponent for the inaugural SEC/ACC Challenge, as the Hogs are set to play at Florida State on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. CT at Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee. Network designation will be announced at a later date.
“The first year of the SEC/ACC challenge really delivered with so many great matchups,” said head coach Mike Neighbors. “Our two leagues have consistently been among the top women’s leagues in the NCAA year in and year out. To have all these competitive games in the preseason is another step to build on the momentum last years Final Four brought to our game.”
Florida State is coming off a 23-10 season, which ended in an NCAA Tournament appearance in the Iowa City regional. The Seminoles fell short of Georgia in the first round, 66-54, but enjoyed signature wins during the season, including against No. 11 NC State (W, 91-72), No. 13 North Carolina (W, 78-71) and No. 16 Duke (W, 70-57). Ta’Niya Latson, who won the Tamika Catchings Award as the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s National Freshman of the Year, is the leading returner on the squad, having averaged 21.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game along with 90 assists and 51 steals last season.
“To play in Tallahassee against a perennial NCAA tournament team like Florida State, will be a great experience for our team,” added Neighbors.
Arkansas and Florida State have faced one another just one time back on Nov. 13, 2011, at the WBI Tip Off Classic in Daytona Beach. The Hogs won that game in a 55-52 overtime thriller.
Each of the 28 games on the men’s and women’s sides will be broadcast on an ESPN platform and each conference will host an equal number of home games.
The Razorbacks are coming off a 24-13 season, which finished with Arkansas’ fifth postseason berth (if including 2020) in the Neighbors’ era. Arkansas made it to the Great 8 of the Postseason WNIT before falling to eventually 2023 Postseason WNIT Champion Kansas, 78-64. Samara Spencer is the leading returning scorer, who is coming off averaging 14.4 points per game and a team-leading 154 assists. Saylor Poffenbarger paced the team on the boards with 6.9 per game and four-year starter Makayla Daniels is back for her fifth year after having averaged 13.2 points per game last season. The Hogs also bring in a top 15 recruiting class and return eight total from last year’s squad.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI