CONWAY — Maggie Proffitt and Courtney Duever combined for 36 points on Saturday, and that alone was enough to defeat New Orleans – though the Sugar Bears got plenty of help elsewhere as they cruised to a 62-30 win over the Privateers in a record-setting defensive performance.
The 30 points surrendered is the fewest UCA has allowed to a Division I team, eclipsing the old mark of 37 set twice – against UT Arlington on Feb. 6, 2011 and at Lamar on Jan. 7, 2012. It was the lowest the Sugar Bears have allowed to any opponent since giving up just 21 to Central Baptist on Dec. 4, 2012. It was also the fewest points scored by New Orleans, which is 3-71 the past three seasons, since an 81-30 loss at Southeastern Louisiana on Jan. 4, 2012.
Proffitt equaled the Privateers' output in the first half with 16 as the Sugar Bears (15-7, 9-2 Southland) built a 46-16 lead at the break before taking a lead as large as 35 in the second half. New Orleans (0-22, 0-11) trailed 17-9 just over eight minutes into the game, but the Sugar Bears went on a 25-4 run over the next eight minutes to safely distance themselves from the Privateers.
The win keeps the Sugar Bears atop the league standings, eclipses their Southland win total from last season and matches last season's overall win total of 15.
Proffitt finished with 23 points, her second-highest total of the season and most in conference play. Duever added 13 points and eight rebounds, and Brittany Agee just missed her first double-double, getting nine points and a season-high 10 rebounds in 24 minutes.
New Orleans got seven points and five rebounds from Danielle Davis and six points and five rebounds from Dannisha Jackson.
The Sugar Bears, who came into the game second in the Southland in rebounding margin at +8.2, doubled that margin up on Saturday – outrebounding the Privateers 41-25. UCA held UNO to just 27.1 percent shooting from the field while converting 47.9 percent on the offensive end.
UCA will travel to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Houston Baptist next week before returning home for their final three games of the season in the Farris Center beginning with Oral Roberts on Feb. 22 followed by Sam Houston State on Feb. 27 and Lamar on March 1.
