CONWAY — Central Arkansas got out to a hot start on Senior Night in the Farris Center on Wednesday, scoring 11 points in the first 4:04 to jump out to a quick five-point lead on Sam Houston State. Unfortunately for the Sugar Bears, it would take them 13:25 to score their next 11 – allowing the Bearkats to run out to a double-digit lead that would prove to be too much for Central Arkansas to overcome, as the Sugar Bears fell 71-59 in the final home game of the season.

The Sugar Bears (11-16, 6-11 Southland) would draw as close as four early in the third quarter, but the Bearkats (16-11, 11-6) responded with a 10-0 run over the next 1:40 to extend the lead to 14 and effectively put the game away, with the Sugar Bears never getting closer than 10 the rest of the way.

After allowing 43 free throws to the Bearkats in the first meeting of the season, the Sugar Bears kept SHSU to just 19 attempts on Wednesday. It was turnovers this time that got the Sugar Bears, as they committed 20 – leading to a 29-14 advantage in points off turnovers for the Bearkats.

The Sugar Bears were held to 37.0 percent shooting (20 of 54), while the Bearkats shot 47.5 (28 of 59).

Freshman Alana Canady had 12 points to lead the Sugar Bears in scoring, while senior Kamry Orr had 10 points, 7 rebounds 3 assists, 2 steals and a block in her final game in the Farris Center. Alanie Fisher, also playing at home for the final time, finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists; while senior Antonija Bozic added 9 points on 3-for-5 shooting from 3-point range and Alexyse Thomas had 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals in their last games in the Farris Center. Hannah Langhi added 10 points and 5 rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench, and Maddie Goodner led the team by tying her career high with 5 assists in 26 minutes before going down with a knee injury in the second half.

Amber Leggett had 21 points and 8 rebounds for the Bearkats, Jenniffer Oramas added 12 points, Jaylonn Walker added 11, Dominique Maxwell had 10 and Lydia Baxter had 7 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Sugar Bears now travel to Natchitoches, La. for the regular season finale at Northwestern State on Saturday, holding a one-game lead over the Lady Demons for the 8th and final spot in next week's Southland Conference Tournament in Katy, Texas.