CONWAY — After three games away from the Farris Center at the World Vision Basketball Invitational at Texas Tech last weekend, the Sugar Bears (4-2) return home for their next three games beginning with the Ecclesia College Lady Royals at 7 p.m. on Friday.
After beginning the season 3-0 at home, the Sugar Bears defeated ULM in Lubbock to move to 4-0. In that game, Megan Herbert hit a major milestone by recording the 50th double-double of her career. Herbert, who leads all active Division I players in career double-doubles (Sacred Heart's Callan Taylor is second with 41), is nine away from the top 25 career totals in D-I history.
Coming home off back-to-back losses to No. 19 Texas Tech and UMKC, the Sugar Bears will look to get back in the win column against a Lady Royals team they have had much success against in recent years. It will mark the third consecutive season the teams have met, with the Sugar Bears winning decisively in each of the last two meetings – winning by a total of 99 points.
Two seasons ago the Sugar Bears had a record-setting night against the Lady Royals in a 119-59 victory. UCA's point total tied the Southland Conference record for points scored in a game, and Westin Taylor became the only Division I player to hit 10 3-point shots in one half, going 10-for-12 in the second half en route to a career-high 38 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block. Megan Herbert had 31 points, 17 rebounds and five assists, and Desiree' Rogers had a double-double of her own with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
Last season the Sugar Bears defeated the Lady Royals 93-54, led by 15 points from Britney Gowans. Taylor had 14, Desiree' Rogers 13 and Courtney Duever 12. Duever also had a career-high 8 steals of the Sugar Bears' 27, with Gowans recording five and Taylor three.
The Sugar Bears will host crosstown foe Central Baptist College on Monday at 5 p.m. as part of a doubleheader, with the Bears taking on Southeast Missouri State in the nightcap.
The homestand concludes with defending Ohio Valley Conference tournament champion Tennessee-Martin on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m.
Friday's game against Ecclesia will also serve as the unveiling of new floor-level chairback seating at the Farris Center.
