CONWAY — After building an eight point lead on Jacksonville State early in the second half, Central Arkansas was outscored 35-18 over the last 15 minutes as the Sugar Bears fell 63-54 to the Gamecocks in the Farris Center on Saturday. 

Trailing by one, the Sugar Bears (2-3) scored nine straight points in just under three minutes – getting a pair of jumpers from Kendara Watts, a Kelsey McClure layup and a three-point play from Raquel Logan – to get out to their biggest lead on the Gamecocks at 36-28 with 15:26 to play.

The Gamecocks (4-1), however, had an answer, coming right back with a 17-2 run over the next five minutes to grab a 45-38 lead. The Sugar Bears countered with seven in a row to draw even with 7:12 to play on a McClure layup, but Jacksonville State seized control of the game by outscoring UCA 12-4 over the next 6:30 to secure the Gamecocks' fourth straight win. 

Free throws were a major factor down the stretch as JSU scored 12 of its final 14 points at the line, including making nine in the final two minutes. The Sugar Bears, however, were just 8 of 17 from the line in the half, finishing the game 12-22 (54.5 percent) compared to 17-20 (85 percent) for the Gamecocks.

UCA trailed four with 2:13 left after a Terai Sadler free throw, but JSU's Candace Morton converted a three-point play on the other end to make it 55-48, and after Maggie Proffitt hit one of two free throws for UCA, Morton answered by hitting a pair on the other end with 47 seconds left. 

McClure made a pair of free throws for the Sugar Bears and Proffitt followed by stealing the ensuing inbounds pass, then made one of two free throws to cut the JSU lead to five at 57-52 with 26 seconds to go, but the Gamecocks were perfect in their next six attempts to close it out.

UCA was led by Watts' 15 points, while McClure had 10 points and a team-high 9 rebounds, and Logan 9 points, 4 rebounds and a team-leading 2 blocks in 18 minutes off the bench.

Morton had a game-high 21 points for JSU, going 9 of 10 from the line, and Miranda Cantrell had 11 points and 11 rebounds. 

The Sugar Bears travel to Alcorn State on Tuesday, then return home for a pair of games against Central Baptist on Dec. 4 and Southeast Missouri State on Dec. 6.