LAKE CHARLES, La. — Central Arkansas built a 15-point lead in the second half and looked like it might be the first team to defeat Southland Conference leader McNeese State at home this season, but the Cowgirls outscored the Sugar Bears 30-13 over the next 15 minutes, including a 17-4 run, to take the lead in the closing minutes and held on for a 65-59 win at Burton Coliseum on Saturday.
"We had them on the ropes," said UCA head coach Matt Daniel. "But we turned the ball over a little bit too much in the second half and they were capable of pressuring us really, really well. We got in foul trouble and didn't have our best players on the floor all the time and weren't able to get comfortable because a lot of calls that didn't go our way."
After leading for more than 30 minutes, the Sugar Bears (15-9, 7-4 Southland) surrendered the lead when McNeese State's Ashlyn Baggett knocked down a 3-pointer with 2:37 left to give the Cowgirls (17-6, 9-1) a 55-53 lead.
Following a bucket from McNeese's Raiyawna Gatlin, the teams traded free throws before a layup by Megan Herbert made it 59-57 McNeese with 55 seconds to go. Baggett answered on the Cowgirls' ensuing possession, knocking down a 3-pointer from the top of the key with the shot clock winding down to push the lead to five with 27 seconds remaining.
Herbert hit a pair of free throws with 22 seconds left to cut it to three, but Baggett came right back with two of her own. McNeese's Kendra Wells hit one more free throw with 12 second to go to clinch the win for the Cowgirls, who move to 8-0 at home this season.
Baggett led all scorers with 21 points, including 14 in the second half, and had a game-high three steals as the Cowgirls forced the Sugar Bears into 23 turnovers while committing just eight.
Herbert had 15 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes to lead the Sugar Bears, getting her 16th double-double of the season and 43rd of her career. Nakeia Guiden had 11 – all in the first half. Desiree' Rogers added nine, also all in the first half.
The Sugar Bears will be off Wednesday and then travel to Sam Houston State on Saturday.
