Houston, Texas - With an opportunity to overtake the number one spot in the Southland Conference standings today, Central Arkansas (12-3-1, 7-1 SLC) took full advantage, using a hot start to upend the Houston Baptist Huskies 3-1. Entering the match, the Huskies sat atop the Southland table with 18 points, while the Bears sat second with 17, but UCA would strike twice in the first 10 minutes to take over the top spot in the league standings.
 
Central Arkansas would get off to a rip-roaring start less than 10 minutes into the match. A Hadley Dickinson corner kick in the eighth minute would find the head of Gracie Hair. Hair's header would flash across the face of goal and would find the head of Camille Bassett who finished it off from point blank range to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.
 
The hot start would continue as Bassett would net her second goal of the match less than two minutes after her first and double UCA's lead. Kristen Ricks streaked down the left side and her cross would find Bassett, who again smashed it home with her head in front of goal. It would be Bassett's ninth goal of the season and put the Bears up 2-0 over the conference leaders less than 10 minutes into the match.
 
Despite holding a 2-0 lead, the Bears continued to apply the pressure on the conference leaders and would earn a penalty kick opportunity in the 21st minute. Connie Awuku-Darkoh would step up and take the penalty for the Bears and would bury it from 12 yards out. That goal would be Awuku-Darkoh's ninth of the season as well, and the Bears would take a commanding 3-0 lead 20 minutes into the match.
 
Bria Williams would nearly grab a fourth for the Bears in the 40th minute as she was able to split two Houston Baptist defenders and fire a shot from just inside the penalty area. Her strike would be matched on a save from HBU keeper Alanis Guevara and the score remained 3-0 going into halftime.
 
The second half saw HBU get one goal back in the 56th minute as a header from Sabriah Spencer would find its way into the back of the net to cut the Central Arkansas lead to 3-1 with just over 30 minutes remaining.
 
UCA would create more opportunities to grab a fourth including a header from Awuku-Darkoh in the 67th minute that was saved followed by a Williams header a minute later that was also saved and the score remained 3-1. From there, UCA would keep the ball and milk the clock, hanging on to the 3-1 lead and grabbing the victory in a crucial Southland Conference away victory.
 
The win puts Central Arkansas atop the Southland Conference standings with three conference games left, all of which are at home at the Bill Stephens Complex. The Bears will open their season-ending homestand on Friday evening, hosting Nicholls at 7:00 PM.
 
UCA coach Jeremy Bishop was pleased with his team's performance and is excited to close out the regular season at home.
 
"I'm extremely proud of this group. To go on the road for four straight games with really difficult conditions, all while playing for the top spot in the league and come away with wins in all of them is a tremendous accomplishment. Now we get to come home, continue to work hard as we finish out the regular season," said Bishop.