Houston, Texas –

Adriana Lucar struck three times for her third hat trick of the season, and the Central Arkansas Bears continued their offensive success against Texas Southern on Sunday afternoon with a 5-2 victory.

The Bears (8-2) came into the game as the highest scoring team in the NCAA, averaging 3.67 goals per game, and they again experienced little trouble finding the net on Sunday. They got on the board early, when Sarah Correll fed a pass to Lucar, who blasted it home in the second minute for an early 1-0 lead. Two minutes later, Lucar showed that she can contribute in other ways, feeding Cassie Lange, who put the ball away for her second goal of the season and 2-0 lead. Texas Southern (1-7) struck back just before halftime, when Janae Gonzales found the Central Arkansas net for her first goal of the season, and cutting the Central Arkansas lead in half.

The Bears again struck quickly in second half, as Hailey Haynes crossed the ball to Elizabeth Brady, who slid it past Texas Southern keeper Liliana Hernandez for her fourth goal of the season to give Central Arkansas the 3-1 lead. Just seconds later, Lucar worked her way through the defense and found the net for her second goal of the day to extend the Central Arkansas lead to 4-1. The Lady Tigers got back on the board in the 62^nd minute, as Brendaletzy Lopez fielded a pass from Marlyn Campa and put it way for her first goal of the season, cutting the Central Arkansas leas to 4-2. The Bears wasted little time in responding, as just four minutes later, Abigail Hodgson sent a pass to Lucar who slotted it home for her third goal of the day to push the Central Arkansas advantage to 5-2.

Lucar, who came into the game as the NCAA’s leading individual scorer with an average of 1.22 goals per game, pushed that average up to 1.4 goals per game with her third hat trick of the season.

Kelsey Gochnaeur was in the net for the Bears during the first half, allowing one goal. Lyndzey Goff took over in the second half, recording one save and allowing one goal. Liliana Hernandez was in goal for 51 minutes for the Lady Tigers, collecting five saves and allowing four goals. Rebecca Hajny played the final 39 minutes in goal, making one save and allowing a goal.

The game was the final non-conference tune up for the Bears, who open Southland Conference play on Friday against Northwestern State in Natchitoches, Louisiana. They then travel to Huntsville, Texas on Sunday to battle Sam Houston State.