Mario Bravante

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Arkansas Women’s Basketball (18-13) exited the SEC Tournament on Friday afternoon, falling to No. 1 South Carolina, 76-54. The Hogs now await their NCAA Tournament fate, and Selection Sunday is set for March 13. It will air at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Samara Spencer led the way for the Hogs in the loss, scoring 10 points. Spencer nearly double-doubled in the game, as she also pulled down eight rebounds. Makayla Daniels also nearly double-doubled for the second straight game, as she scored nine points and pulled down nine rebounds.

TURNING POINT

It was another slow start for the Hogs, as Carolina raced out to a quick 12-4 lead six minutes into the game. Aliyah Boston, the SEC Player of the Year, was great in the first quarter for Carolina, scoring five points, pulling down five rebounds, while also nabbing three steals. Arkansas finished the first quarter down 12, 24-12.

The Hogs didn’t quit though, winning the second frame, 17-16. Head Coach Mike Neighbors’ bunch cut the deficit to seven at one point in the third quarter, as a three-ball from Sasha Goforth made it a 44-37 game with 6:50 to play in the frame. From then on, though, Carolina put its foot on the gas, leading by as many as 24 points in the game. The Gamecocks ended up going wire-to-wire, as the Hogs never led.

HOG HIGHLIGHTS

• Goforth notched four more blocks in the loss, and is now second on Arkansas’ all-time single-season blocks list (64).

• Rylee Langerman added some scoring punch for the Hogs, chipping in with eight points.

• Erynn Barnum was also effective off the bench, going for seven points, four boards, two assists and two blocks.