CONWAY — Central Arkansas saw its winning streak come to an end at five games on Thursday as an incredible shooting performance from Southland Conference preseason favorite Stephen F. Austin did in the cold-shooting Sugar Bears in a 73-46 Ladyjack win in the Farris Center.
In dealing the Sugar Bears (9-6, 2-1 Southland) their first Southland defeat of the season, SFA (9-5, 2-1) shot 83.3 percent from 3-point range – making 10 of 12, led by a perfect 5-for-5 performance from Brentney Branch – as they jumped out to a quick lead and pulled away early, taking a 47-23 lead into the half.
UCA went just 18 of 52 (34.6 percent) from the field, making only 2 of its 10 3-point attempts. One of the nation's best free throw shooting teams this season, the Sugar Bears also struggled at the line on Thursday, making 8 of 14 (57.1 percent).
The Sugar Bears out-rebounded the 'Jacks 35-33 and held the SFA duo of Porsha Roberts and Taylor Ross – SFA's top two scorers at a combined 34.2 points per game – to just six total points, but could not overcome the Ladyjacks' long-range shooting. Branch had a career-high 23 points, shooting 8 of 10 overall, and of the four SFA players to attempt a 3-point field goal, none missed more than once.
Turnovers also plagued UCA throughout the game, as the Sugar Bears committed 21 after recording just five on Tuesday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. SFA took advantage, winning the points-off-turnovers battle 21-5.
Kelsey McClure had 11 points in the first half for UCA, including 8 in the first seven minutes, but was held scoreless over the game's final 21 minutes. Kendara Watts led the Sugar Bears in scoring for the seventh time this season, scoring 12. Brianna Mullins had 5 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, and Raquel Logan had 4 points and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes.
The Sugar Bears take to the road for their next three games, including two next week as they face Lamar in Beaumont on Tuesday and then travel to Houston Baptist on Thursday. After a trip to New Orleans on Jan. 21, the Sugar Bears return home for a pair, hosting Nicholls on Jan. 24 and Northwestern State on Jan. 28.
