FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas women’s basketball team has started the season with a perfect 3-0 record, largely due to the outstanding performance of freshman guard Bonnie Deas. In her first week of collegiate play, Deas has averaged a remarkable 18.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, making her the only freshman in the United States to achieve these statistics after the first three games of the season. Her impressive contributions on the court earned her the title of SEC Freshman of the Week.
Deas, hailing from Melbourne, Australia, made her debut against Louisiana Tech, where she scored 25 points, along with five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. She followed that performance with her first collegiate double-double against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, recording 12 points and 12 rebounds, along with six assists. In the Razorbacks’ latest game, a comeback victory against Central Arkansas, Deas accumulated 18 points and 12 rebounds. This match also marked her first time fouling out in a collegiate game, a moment she described as nerve-wracking: “My heart was racing. I was a bit nervous, but I knew the girls on the court had control of the game and were going to be safe.”
The Razorbacks’ strong start under new head coach Kelsi Musick has set a positive tone for the season. Musick noted that the team’s rigorous offseason training, which included extensive work in the weight room and individual skill development, has prepared the players for the challenges of the season. “It doesn’t matter how old you are. It doesn’t matter if you’re a freshman or a senior. Everybody’s got to be ready for their moment,” she stated following the win against Central Arkansas.
Looking ahead, the Razorbacks will face tougher competition as they prepare for a game against Southeastern Louisiana on November 16, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. CST, which will be broadcast on SECN+. Following that, they will travel to Lubbock, Texas, to take on Texas Tech on November 19, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. CST, available on ESPN+.
In other sports news from Arkansas, the men’s basketball team secured a dominant victory against Central Arkansas with a score of 93-56. Additionally, defensive lineman Quincy Rhodes Jr. has been named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which honors college football’s most outstanding defensive players. He leads the Razorbacks with 14 tackles for a loss and nine sacks, positioning himself among the top players in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and nationwide.
In women’s tennis, a pair of Arkansas players reached the playoff matches at the UTR PTT 25K Fayetteville tournament but were unable to advance further. Carolina Gomez lost in a closely contested match, while Anet Kostel was defeated in straight sets.
The early success of the Arkansas teams, particularly Deas’s standout performance, has generated excitement among fans and set high expectations for the remainder of the season.
