LORMAN, Miss. — After an 8-0 run late in the first half to take its first lead, Central Arkansas steadily pulled away in the second half as the Sugar Bears rolled to a 62-36 win at Alcorn State on Tuesday.
After trailing most of the first half, the Sugar Bears (3-3) assumed the lead with five minutes left in the period with eight straight free throws, taking a 30-21 lead into the locker room at the half. The Sugar Bears then held the Lady Braves (0-5) to just 16.1 percent shooting from the field in the second half to take control, improving to 3-0 all-time against ASU.
"We're happy with every win we get," said UCA head coach Sandra Rushing. "We have to celebrate them all. But, we came out lackadaisical early and they kept doing whatever they wanted to. Thank goodness they didn't shoot it very well, because they got their looks. And we need to do a better job of executing our offense – we didn't set very good screens and part of the time it looked like we weren't sure of what we're running. But there were some positive things, and I'm happy with a win on the road."
The 36 points was the lowest total allowed this season by the Sugar Bears, who have held three of their last four opponents to 45 points or less. The 26-point margin is also the Sugar Bears' largest since a 62-30 win over New Orleans on February 8.
After shooting just 54.5 percent from the free throw line in Saturday's loss to Jacksonville State, the Sugar Bears bounced back on Tuesday as they were nearly perfect – making 24 of 26 attempts (92.3 percent).
Though UCA shot just 29 percent in the first half, the Sugar Bears improved to 40 percent in the second half as they outscored the Lady Braves 32-15 after the break. Both teams struggled from the perimeter, with the Sugar Bears hitting 4 of 19 from 3-point range (21.1 percent) and the Lady Braves just 1 of 11 (9.1 percent).
The Sugar Bears were led by Kendara Watts' 17 points, while Brianna Mullins added 14 (all in the second half) plus a team-high 8 rebounds and 2 assists. Maggie Proffitt added 12 points for UCA. Henrietta Wells had 9 points to lead ASU, with Angelica Wilson-Reid grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds.
UCA committed just 6 turnovers, the fewest for the Sugar Bears since a 71-51 win over Sam Houston State on Feb. 6, 2013 – a span of 41 games.
The Sugar Bears return home for two games this week, hosting Central Baptist at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Southeast Missouri State on Saturday at 2 p.m.
