CONWAY — Central Arkansas came into Saturday's game with Sam Houston State allowing just 49.8 points per game in Southland Conference play.
The high-powered Bearkats, who sport the nation's 15th most prolific offense, nearly got there in the first half – scoring 44 before the break as the Sugar Bears fell 72-54 in the Farris Center as the Bearkats remained perfect in Southland Conference play.
The Sugar Bears (7-8, 3-3 Southland) gave up their most points in a half this season as the Bearkats (11-4, 6-0) got out to a 24-17 lead after the 1st quarter and then opened the second quarter with a 10-0 run to pull away, outscoring Central Arkansas 20-7 in the quarter to build a 20-point halftime lead. The Sugar Bears would outscore the Bearkats 30-28 in the second half, but it was too little, too late as SHSU won for the seventh consecutive game and third time in their last four against the Sugar Bears despite being held to their lowest point total of the conference season and lowest since scoring 71 at Oklahoma on Dec. 15.
After surrendering just nine 3-pointers through their first five conference games, the Sugar Bears fell victim to a hot-shooting Bearkat squad that knocked down seven in the first half alone and finished the game 10-for-26, the most any opponent has converted against the Sugar Bears this season. Turnovers also plagued the Sugar Bears on Saturday as they committed 25 against a Bearkat team that ranks 5th nationally with 24.1 turnovers forced per game. SHSU would convert those 25 turnovers into 25 points, while committing just 18 of their own.
Alana Canady led the Sugar Bears in scoring with 11, while
Taylor Sells added 8 points and a season-high 10 rebounds as the Sugar Bears edged the Bearkats 41-38 on the glass, their 8th straight game to win the rebounding battle.
Terri Crawford had 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals;
Savanna Walker added 7 points;
Hannah Langhi had 4 points and 7 rebounds, and
Briana Trigg had 6 points and 6 rebounds.
The Bearkats had four players in double figures, led by Amber Leggett and Faith Cook with 13 apiece. Jenniffer Oramas added 12 and Jaylonn Walker had 11.
The Sugar Bears hit the road for a pair next week, facing Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas on Wednesday and Nicholls in Thibodaux, La. on Saturday. They return home to take on Abilene Christian in the Farris Center on the 25th.
