by By Jeri Thorpe
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas sophomore Chelsea Dungee (Cherokee) scored eight points in overtime propelling the Razorback women’s basketball team to an 88-80 win over Houston in the first round of the WNIT in Bud Walton Arena on Thursday.
Dungee paced a late rally that sent Arkansas to its first OT since the 2016 season. She finished scoring 37 points including 23 in the second half and overtime. Dungee took over in OT, scoring eight of the Hogs’ 15 points and outscoring the Cougars 8-7. Dungee set the program record for scoring in a single-season and has 724 points in 35 contests this year.
The game was tight throughout with 13 ties and nine lead changes as the two teams spent the majority of the contest within one possession of each another. Arkansas led by two after three quarters, but the Cougars took a two-point lead under a minute until Dungee calmly sank a pair of free throws to knot the game at 73-all with 19 seconds left.
Arkansas’ defense held on the final possession of regulation as Houston was forced to take a shot from distance when they couldn’t get it inside.
Overtime began with a 6-0 Razorback run as Arkansas grabbed the momentum with the surge. Arkansas forced four Cougar turnovers and outrebounded Houston 7-4 in the final five minutes on their way to the win.
Up Next
Arkansas moves on to the second round to face UAB on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena. The Blazers won on the road at Troy 93-89 to advance.
