During the third quarter, tempers began to flare. Daniels and Vanderbilt freshman forward Khamil Pierre were assessed double technical fouls with 5:15 left in the quarter. Daniels made a driving layup later in the quarter and was fouled to pull the Razorbacks within 40-32 but was assessed an unsportsmanlike technical foul, which resulted in her ejection.
Neighbors walked with his fifth-year guard down the tunnel and to the locker room. The seventh-year Arkansas coach said he contemplated not returning to the sideline.
“Nothing’s going to change,” Neighbors said, recalling his conversation with Daniels. “No wins, no losses. We’re in the postseason five straight years. It [hasn’t been done since former Coach Gary] Blair’s time. Her legacy is cemented. Nothing about this game, nothing about the rest of this season changes her legacy. Don’t let this.
“I thought about staying back there with her. I really did. I was really worried that if I went back out, I’d end up joining her [with a technical] and it would cost us two free throws.”
The Razorbacks (18-11, 6-8 SEC) got within 56-53 with 4:32 left but were outscored 6-0 over the final stretch. Six combined technical fouls were called, and Arkansas fifth-year guard Makayla Daniels was ejected late in the third quarter on her senior day.
Vanderbilt (20-8, 7-7) led for all but 2:58 of the second half and won a game with plenty of NCAA Tournament implications. The Commodores were among the last four teams in ESPN’s bracket projection entering the contest and the Razorbacks were among the first four out.
Neighbors walked with his fifth-year guard down the tunnel and to the locker room. The seventh-year Arkansas coach said he contemplated not returning to the sideline.
“Nothing’s going to change,” Neighbors said, recalling his conversation with Daniels. “No wins, no losses. We’re in the postseason five straight years. It [hasn’t been done since former Coach Gary] Blair’s time. Her legacy is cemented. Nothing about this game, nothing about the rest of this season changes her legacy. Don’t let this.
“I thought about staying back there with her. I really did. I was really worried that if I went back out, I’d end up joining her [with a technical] and it would cost us two free throws.”