NEW ORLEANS — Brianna Mullins turned in her best performance of the season on Thursday, scoring a season-high 18 points, getting a career-high 12 rebounds and 5 steals, and had 4 assists to lead all players as Central Arkansas defeated New Orleans 59-44 at Lakefront Arena for the Sugar Bears' fifth straight win.

The Sugar Bears (15-2, 5-1 Southland) took their first lead at the 5:49 mark of the first quarter on a pair of Jameka Watkins free throws and maintained the advantage the rest of the way, defeating the Privateers (5-10, 2-4) for the fourth straight time to remain perfect in the all-time series.

With a 31-25 halftime lead, the Sugar Bears distanced themselves from the Privateers with an 18-10 third quarter before building a lead as large as 17 en route to their 14th win in their last 15 games.

With her 18 points and 12 rebounds, Mullins finished with her second double-double of the season. Her four 3-pointers made was her season-high and equaled the most of her UCA career. Watkins was a career-best 10-f0r-10 from the free throw line en route to a season-high 12 points. Maggie Proffitt was 3-for-6 on 3-pointers en route to 13 points in 23 minutes, and Kendara Watts added 5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block.

The Sugar Bears held New Orleans' leading scorer Randi Brown to just 8 points, all in the second half. Entering Thursday's game, Brown was averaging 16.3 points per game.

Led by Watkins, the Sugar Bears finished the night 18 of 20 (90 percent) at the free throw line, while UNO shot 63.2 percent (12 of 19). The Sugar Bears held the Privateers without a 3-pointer (0-for-4), while converting 7 of 17 (41.2 percent), with Mullins and Proffitt combing to shoot 7 of 14.

Thursday's game was the first of a three-game road swing for the Sugar Bears, who will play at Nicholls at 5:30 on Saturday in a game broadcast on ESPN3 before taking on Northwestern State in Natchitoches on Wednesday.