CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — To begin the 2014 Southland Conference season, Central Arkansas swept the opening weekend, defeating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 66-62 and Houston Baptist 67-54.
But those were in the Farris Center.
Now the Sugar Bears (15-7, 9-2 Southland) take to the road in the return meeting with each of those teams as they look to maintain their grip on the top position in the Southland standings. The first meeting will be against the Islanders (12-11, 5-7) at 5 p.m. on Thursday, followed by a 3 p.m. matchup Saturday at Houston Baptist.
It is the first two of five return games the Sugar Bears will play, with a home matchup against Oral Roberts on Feb. 22 and a trip to Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin to end the regular season still on the slate.
LINKS
Audio (pregame begins 4:40)
UCA game notes
TAMUCC game notes
Live Stats
Video
THE SERIES
The Sugar Bears have won four of the last five against the Islanders, including the win earlier this season in Conway. Courtney Duever had 24 points, 15 rebounds 3 blocks and 3 steals in that win, and Terai Sadler and Maggie Proffitt each had 12. UCA defeated TAMUCC 55-40 last season in Corpus Christi, outscoring the Islanders 33-17 in the second half after trailing by one at halftime. Duever had 11 points and 12 rebounds in that game. The Islanders lead the all-time series 5-4, having won the first four meetings and last season's game in Conway.
LAST TIME OUT
UCA
The Sugar Bears had no problem in defeating New Orleans in front of an ESPN3 audience on Saturday, winning 62-30 after leading 46-16 at halftime. Maggie Proffitt had 23 points and Courtney Duever 13, while Brittany Agee just missed out on her first double-double at UCA with 9 points and 10 rebounds.
AMCC
Jasmine Shaw, this week's Southland Conference Player of the Week, scored 26 as the Islanders won on the road 74-71 at Abilene Christian. Shaw made 6 of 7 from 3-point range in the win, with Brittany Mbamalu – who leads the league in 3-pointers made – adding a pair from long range. The Islanders out-rebounded the Wildcats 44-30 in the win.
STATS OF NOTE
-– In defeating UNO 62-30 on Saturday, the Sugar Bears held a team to the lowest point total in a Southland conference game since UT Arlington held Nicholls to the same amount on March 4, 2005. It also broke the Central Arkansas record for fewest points allowed to a Division I opponent, eclipsing the old mark of 37 set twice – against UT Arlington on Feb. 6, 2011 and at Lamar on Jan. 7, 2012. It was also the fewest points allowed by the Sugar Bears to any opponent since giving up just 21 to Central Baptist (NAIA) on Dec. 4, 2012.
– Freshman guard Maggie Proffitt had her highest scoring output of the conference season on Saturday against the Privateers with 23 points, making three 3-point field goals. She tops all Southland players with a .423 3-point pct. and ranks 5th in 3-pointers made with 47. In conference games, she is 2nd in 3-point pct. at .458.
– Three of the top five 3-point shooters in the Southland will square off as A&M-Corpus Christi's duo of Brittany Mbamalu (66) and Jasmine Shaw (60) are 1-2 in 3pt FG made, and UCA's Maggie Proffitt is 5th with 47. Mbamalu & Proffitt are both freshmen.
– At 17.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, Courtney Duever is one of three Southland players averaging a double-double during the conference season. She is joined by Sam Houston State's Angela Beadle (16.0 points, 11.3 rebounds) and Southeastern Louisiana's Nanna Pool (12.0 points, 11.1 rebounds). She is the only player to rank among the league's top 12 in scoring, rebounding, blocks and steals.
– The Sugar Bears lead the league with a +11.2 scoring margin in conference play, including a league-best scoring defense of 54.7 points per game – 4.4 points better than their closest competitor in Stephen F. Austin. UCA is mixing its defensive effort with good efficiency on the offensive end, ranking second in the league in both field goal percentage (.451) and free throw percentage (.747).
