NATCHITOCHES, La. — Two free throws from Northwestern State's Janelle Perez in the final seconds was just enough to make the difference on Thursday as Central Arkansas fell for the first time in four games, taking a tightly contested 54-52 loss on the road to the Lady Demons.

With the game tied at 52 with 21 seconds left and the Lady Demons (13-10, 8-4 Southland) with possession, the Sugar Bears (13-10, 6-5) – who had just two fouls in the half – twice intentionally fouled Perez to prevent the game's leading scorer from getting a shot. 

After the second foul, just four seconds remained, with NSU inbounding the ball from the sideline. The Lady Demons got the ball to Perez once again, and as she drove to the basket for a last-second shot attempt, the Sugar Bears fouled once again – this time while Perez was in the act of shooting. 

She sank both, giving NSU the two-point lead and forcing the Sugar Bears to go the length of the floor with 2.9 seconds remaining. UCA got the ball to Brianna Mullins, who dribbled up the floor and got a long-distance heave at the buzzer, but it fell short, sending the Sugar Bears to their first loss since losing 75-72 in overtime to Nicholls on Jan. 24.

In a game with seven ties and 12 lead changes, the teams battled back and forth throughout, going the final five minutes with neither team leading by more than two points. Perez, who was 6-for-6 from the free throw line en route to a game-high 19 points, made a pair to tie the game with 2:17 left before Mullins – who led UCA with 18 points, including 15 in the 2nd half – answered with 1:52 left to push the Sugar Bears back ahead. 

Perez retaliated once again just 16 seconds later, drawing the score even at 50 with 1:36 left. Jameka Watkins raced down the floor for a layup attempt on the ensuing possession, but missed the mark, and Perez knocked down another floater with 1:14 remaining to put NSU back ahead. 

Maggie Proffitt, who was limited to just three shot attempts for the night, knocked down a turnaround jumper with 50 seconds left to even the score at 52. After a Perez miss on the other end, Mullins missed on a layup attempt with 24 seconds left, giving the ball back to the Lady Demons for what would be the final possession.

The Lady Demons finished the game 11 of 12 at the free throw line and won despite shooting just 35.7 percent from the floor and 25 percent from 3-point range. The Sugar Bears out rebounded the Lady Demons 38-34, but committed 14 turnovers which NSU converted into 13 points.

Mullins finished with 18 points despite playing just seven minutes in the first half after being whistled for three early fouls. Kendara Watts had 11, and Watkins added a career-high 12 rebounds and 6 assists with her 9 points. Perez led NSU with 19 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists. 

The Sugar Bears return home on Sunday, hosting Incarnate Word at 1:00 p.m.