CONWAY — In the school's first-ever NCAA Division I postseason tournament game, a Central Arkansas women's basketball record crowd of 2,953 came out to the Farris Center to watch the Sugar Bears take on UAB in the first round of the Women's Basketball Invitational.
Unfortunately, they did not get to celebrate a UCA victory.
Despite not making a field goal in the last 8:30, the Sugar Bears trailed just one with 1:35 to play but couldn't get over the hump in the final moments and fell 58-54 to the Blazers, bringing an end to their 2010-11 season.
"I was talking with my dad this afternoon and he talked to me about being happy," said UCA head coach Matt Daniel. "And I am happy. If we'd have won this game, we'd have advanced and I'd have gotten to coach another game. But it's been a good year, we learned a lot and that's something we can take into the offseason."
"I thought we did a great job of competing all night long," he said. "It was nip-and-tuck all the way in a great environment. Hopefully both the effort and environment is something we can create on a game-to-game basis and not just in postseason play from here on out."
UAB (17-15) jumped on the Sugar Bears (21-12) early, taking a 12-3 lead. But UCA responded with a 17-5 run to take a 20-17 lead with eight minutes to go in the first half. The Sugar Bears stayed within five and trailed just 27-26 at the half.
The Sugar Bears looked primed to take control of the game, going on a 12-4 run to start the second half, going up 38-31.
With 8:58 remaining, UAB's Karisma Chapman knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Blazers their first lead in 11 minutes. The Sugar Bears answered on a layup by Megan Herbert with 8:31 to go, making it 47-46 UCA on what would prove to be both the Sugar Bears' final basket and final lead.
Even without a field goal, the Sugar Bears were able to stay close by hitting 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch. UCA junior guard Nakeia Guiden hit two with 1:35 remaining to pull the Sugar Bears back within one, 55-54, but the Sugar Bears were unable to put any more points on the board.
Amber Jones, who finished with a game-high 19 points, hit a jumper with 1:12 to push the lead to three and Chapman hit the front end of a one-and-one with 32 seconds left for the game's final basket.
The Sugar Bears, who had committed just two fouls in the second half up until the final minute, began feverishly fouling the Blazers – 330th in the nation at 59 percent as team – to get them to the free throw line.
Chapman missed the back end of the one-and-one, but the Sugar Bears were unable to take advantage, turning the ball over on the other end.
UAB's LaShaunda Pratt misfired on a free throw on the other end, and Courtney Duever corralled the rebound for UCA with 17 seconds left. UCA once again came up empty on its ensuing possession as Destinee Rogers' shot was off the mark.
The Blazers then kept the ball away from the Sugar Bears, who could not get another foul until only a few seconds remained. Amanda Peterson missed the free throw, but time expired before the Sugar Bears could attempt another shot.
"I thought we defended really well," Daniel said. "They barely got their season average and we defended all the way to their last jumper. I'm pleased with our effort.
"I told the team after the game I thought we had a championship team in that locker room," he said. "I think we played two weeks of championship-type ball atmosphere-wise. That will only help us moving forward."
Herbert had 16 points to lead three Sugar Bears in double figures, with Desiree Rogers and Guiden each adding 10. Duever had a game-high 12 rebounds, tying her season high.
Peterson had 12 for the Blazers, who move on to face Elon in the WBI's second round. Chapman came off the bench to post eight points, 11 rebounds, five blocks and three steals in 28 minutes.
UAB shot 54.2 percent in the second half en route to 43.1 percent for the game. The Sugar Bears were 37.5 percent, including 31.6 percent (6 of 19) from 3-point range. The Sugar Bears outrebounded the Blazers 35-33, but had 15 turnovers to UAB's 11.
The Sugar Bears end their first year out of the Division I reclassification period with their second consecutive 21-win season, first Southland Conference tournament appearance and first D-I national postseason tournament appearance.
"It's been a great year," Daniel said. "It's hard to put into words everything this team's accomplished in back-to-back years. We get to hang a banner in here for going to a postseason tournament, and that's something that will never be removed. This team is the first one to do that in Division I. I asked them to do me one favor – make sure it's not the last."
