GAME INFORMATION
CENTRAL ARKANSAS (4-5) at Incarnate Word (3-4)
December 18, 2019 • 6:30pm • McDermott Center • San Antonio, Texas
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SERIES HISTORY
Central Arkansas leads 6-0
Last 5 Meetings:
1/16/19 – Central Arkansas 74, Incarnate Word 43 (Conway)
1/10/18 – Central Arkansas 57, Incarnate Word 35 (San Antonio)
1/28/17 – Central Arkansas 63, Incarnate Word 50 (Conway)
2/13/16 – Central Arkansas 76, Incarnate Word 57 (San Antonio)
2/15/15 – Central Arkansas 58, Incarnate Word 49 (Conway)
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Central Arkansas
Points Per Game:
Taylor Sells (8.4)
Rebounds Per Game:
Hannah Langhi (5.3)
Assists Per Game:
Taylor Sells (2.7)
Blocks:
Hannah Langhi (7)
Steals:
Romola Dominguez (10)
Incarnate Word
Points Per Game: Imani Robinson (10.4)
Rebounds Per Game: Kara Speer (7.4)
Assists Per Game: Kara Speer (1.9)
Blocks: Lunden Henry/Starr Omozee (3)
Steals: Victoria Jackson (13)
SAN ANTONIO — Southland Conference season opens on Wednesday for the Sugar Bears, as they begin the 20-game slate on the road at Incarnate Word to kick off a two-game swing that concludes at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday.
After playing an 18-game league schedule for the past seven seasons, the Southland has expanded to 20 games this season – with each team playing eight opponents home-and-home and four opponents just once.
Wednesday's meeting will be the lone matchup between the Sugar Bears (4-5) and Cardinals (3-4) this season, with the Sugar Bears looking to remain perfect in the series – coming into the game holding a 6-0 lead. Last season the Sugar Bears defeated the Cardinals 74-43 in Conway. In the last meeting in San Antonio back in 2018, the Sugar Bears came away with a 57-35 win.
The Sugar Bears enter this year's meeting having won three of their last four games, having easily disposed of NAIA foes Crowley's Ridge and Central Baptist, and edging out Jackson State – with the only loss coming at No. 12 Texas A&M. UIW has lost three of its last four, coming up short at Ohio, Colorado State and Kansas State – but are undefeated in three home games this season.
Imani Robinson is UIW's top offensive threat, the lone Cardinal averaging double figures at 10.4 points per game. Kara Speer is the team's second-leading scorer at 7.7 per game while also leading the way with 7.4 rebounds per game. The Cardinals are shooting 34.1 percent from 3-point range for the season, led by Speer at 52.9 percent (9 of 17) and Brittney Stafford at 41.7 percent (15 of 36).
The game will pit two of the Southland's stingiest defenses against one another, as the Sugar Bears are allowing a league-best 54.4 points per game while UIW is surrendering 60.9, which ranks 5th. Offensively, the Sugar Bears are 11th in the league in scoring at 59.2 points per game while UIW is last - scoring just 54.9 per game.
After finishing 8th in the league standings last season, the Sugar Bears were voted 6th in this year's Southland preseason poll while UIW was voted 13th after going 5-13 in league play and 5-24 overall last season, before an offseason coaching change that brought in former ULM coach Jeff Dow.
Following Wednesday's game, the Sugar Bears will travel to Corpus Christi before breaking for the holidays and returning to action on Jan. 1 in the Farris Center against Houston Baptist.
