GAME INFORMATION
CENTRAL ARKANSAS (7-7, 3-2 Southland) vs Sam Houston State (10-4, 5-0)
Jan. 11 2020 • 1:00pm • Farris Center • Conway, Ark.

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SERIES HISTORY
Central Arkansas leads 15-6
Sugar Bears won last meeting
Sugar Bears lead 9-1 in Conway
Sam Houston State won 2 of 3 meetings last season

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Central Arkansas
Points Per Game: Taylor Sells (9.9)
Rebounds Per Game: Hannah Langhi (5.9)
Assists Per Game: Taylor Sells (2.6)
Blocks: Hannah Langhi (11)
Steals: Hannah Langhi (15)

Sam Houston State
Points Per Game: Amber Leggett (15.8)
Rebounds Per Game: La'Sha Haynes (6.8)
Assists Per Game: Jenniffer Oramas (4.4)
Blocks: Kierra McKinney (20)
Steals: Amber Leggett (36)


CONWAY — The Sugar Bears get their toughest test of the young Southland Conference season on Saturday when league-leading Sam Houston State visits the Farris Center, with tipoff set for 1:00pm as the first half of a doubleheader with the Central Arkansas & Sam Houston State men to follow.

After suffering their first home loss of the season on Wednesday, the Sugar Bears will be looking to deal the Bearkats their first Southland loss of the season as SHSU comes in atop the league standings at 5-0 with an average margin of victory of 21.2 points per game. The Bearkats scored an 84-69 win at Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday to run their winning streak to six, having last fallen 95-71 at Oklahoma on Dec. 15. The Bearkats' other losses this season have come at Texas Tech, Ole Miss and Oral Roberts, with non-conference wins against Louisiana and UTSA to their credit.

The Bearkats enter Saturday's game with one of the nation's most prolific offenses, ranking 15th nationally at 80.2 points per game. The Sugar Bears counter with one of the nation's toughest defenses, giving up just 52.8 points per game – 8th-best in the country, and are allowing just 49.8 per game in conference play. The Sugar Bears rank 5th in 3-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 24.4 percent from beyond the arc. Outside of McNeese making 7-of-18, the Sugar Bears have held the rest of their Southland opponents to just 2-for-46 (4.3 percent). 

SHSU has had its own success defensively, ranking 6th nationally in steals per game at 12.9, and 5th in turnovers forced at 24.1 per game. Leading the way is sophomore Amber Leggett, who averages 2.6 steals to go with her Southland-leading 15.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Leggett is one of three Bearkats averaging double figures in scoring, with Jaylonn Walker contributing 12.6 and Jenniffer Oramas 11.8 per game. Oramas ranks 2nd in the Southland in assists at 4.4 per game.

For the Sugar Bears, Taylor Sells has led the way with 12.4 points, 5.2 points and 2.6 assists per game in conference play – shooting a team-best 85.7 percent (18 of 21) from the free throw line over that span. Alana Canady is scoring 10 per game in league play, averaging 4.6 rebounds and shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 71.4 percent from the free throw line as her minutes have increased to 28.4 per game over the last five games. Hannah Langhi continues to pace the team on the boards, pulling in 6.8 per game in conference play and 5.9 per game for the season as the Sugar Bears have outrebounded their opponents by 9.2 per game in conference games.

Last season the Bearkats swept the two regular-season meetings – winning 66-62 in Huntsville and 71-59 in Conway – before the Sugar Bears took the third meeting with a 76-71 upset in the Southland Conference tournament in Katy, Texas.

After Saturday's game, the Sugar Bears will play 4 of their next 5 on the road beginning with a trip to Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday and Nicholls on Saturday. After returning to the Farris Center on the 25th against Abilene Christian, the Sugar Bears will be back on the road going to Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State. 

As part of Saturday's festivities in the Farris Center, children 12 and under will be admitted free as part of Bruce D. Bear & Sugar's party, which will be held on the stage area on the north end of the arena at 2:30. Snacks and activities will be available while supplies last, and the first 50 kids will receive a gift. Bruce & Sugar will be on hand for photos.