JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Central Arkansas went on a 14-0 run midway through the fourth quarter and outscored South Carolina State 19-6 over the final 7:27 to wrap up their stay at the University of North Florida Hampton Inn Oceanfront Holiday Classic undefeated, beating the Bulldogs 51-38 for the Sugar Bears' 8th straight win.
The win marks the sixth time in seven games the Sugar Bears (9-1) have held an opponent to 40 points or fewer, with teams averaging just 37.5 points during those games. The 9-1 start is the Sugar Bears' best mark through 10 games to start a season in Division I, and the program's best start since beginning the 2002-03 season 12-0.
Trailing 35-32 in the 4th, the Sugar Bears got four straight points from
Brianna Mullins, a 3-point play off of an offensive rebound by
Kendara Watts, a 3-pointer from
Maggie Proffitt, then back-to-back scores from Watts and
Raquel Logan to pull away from the Bulldogs (4-6), who were 0-for-8 from the field during the decisive stretch.
The Bulldogs got as close as eight with 1:16 left after an Amber Howard jumper, but the Sugar Bears finished the game with three free throws and a Proffitt layup to squelch any threat of an SC State rally.
The Sugar Bears had to battle back from an early 10-2 deficit in the first quarter, but rallied to take a 20-19 halftime lead. In the third quarter, the Bulldogs went ahead by as many as five, but the Sugar Bears once again had an answer, and closed the quarter with Proffitt knocking down a 3 on the offensive end and blocking one on the defensive end in the final 20 seconds to send UCA to the final quarter with a 32-30 lead.
Mullins finished the game with 11 points and equaled her career high with 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season, and also added a season-high 6 assists.
Proffitt led all players with 16 points, reaching double figures for the seventh time this season. She was 4-for-8 from 3-point range, giving her 12 over the last three games. Logan led the team with 12 rebounds, adding 5 points and 2 blocks.
For the game, the Bulldogs shot 31.4 percent but were just 3 for 17 (17.6 percent) in the 4th quarter. The Sugar Bears, meanwhile were 6-of-9 (66.7 percent) as they outscored the Bulldogs 19-8 in the period.
The Sugar Bears resume play with their non-conference finale in the Farris Center on Dec. 29 against Jarvis Christian College, then begin Southland competition on Jan. 2 at home against Abilene Christian.
