Oklahoma Baptist (0-0) at Arkansas (0-0)
7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3
Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Live Stats | Game Notes |
SHAWNEE – OBU women's basketball tips off the 2016-17 season Thursday night at 7 p.m. as the Lady Bison take on the University of Arkansas in an exhibition matchup in historic Bud Walton Arena.
The Razorbacks finished last season at 12-17 and 7-9 in Southeastern Conference play. They return All-SEC First Team and Associated Press SEC Second-Team selection Jessica Jackson, a 6-3 forward who averaged 16.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Arkansas also acquired last year's Oklahoma Gatorade High School Player of the Year in 5-10 guard Aaliyah Wilson from Muskogee.
The Lady Bison bring to Fayetteville nine returners and seven newcomers. Junior shooting guard
McKenzie Cooper led the team in scoring last season with 13.5 points per game, followed by junior forward
Tasha Edge with 10.2.
Cameerah Graves and
Katy Custer rounded out the starters in scoring with 9 and 8.6 respectively. Edge led OBU in rebounds, pulling down 7.3 boards per game.
With seven players listed over six-foot, height could be both teams' deciding factor. The Razorbacks' tallest player stands at 6-5, while OBU's is listed at 6-1.
"The University of Arkansas is in the Southeastern Conference, one of the best conferences in Division I," said OBU head coach
Casi Bays. "Coach (Jimmy) Dykes does a great job and they have a rich history. It'll be a tough game. Early on, it will allow us to see what our girls are made of and see who will step up to the challenge. It will be a fun game in a great atmosphere. The girls are excited about it."
