CONWAY, Ark. — Jalisa Outlaw led the Sugar Bears with a team-high 19 points, but UCA fell to Little Rock 60-50. The University of Central Arkansas women's basketball team (1-5) hosted rival Little Rock (4-2) at the Farris Center for the Governor's I-40 Showdown presented by Arkansas Blue Cross/Blue Shield on Wednesday.
 
Outlaw started the game strong for the Sugar Bears by scoring the game's first six points on back-to-back 3-pointers. Little Rock answered with a 9-0 run and made the score 9-6, in favor of the Trojans. The teams finished the quarter trading baskets as the game was tied 13-13 at the end of the period.
 
Outlaw continued where she left off in the second as she knocked down a 3-pointer and gave the Sugar Bears a 16-13 lead. After the score was tied at 21-21, the Trojans went on a 10-5 run and closed the half with a 31-26 lead.
 
At the half, Outlaw had a game-high 14 points while she shot 33.3 percent from behind the arc. Tori Lasker had two assists at the break and Briana Trigg, Jayla Cody, and Romola Dominguez were all tied with two rebounds each.
 
Outlaw knocked down a 3-pointer early in the third to pull the Sugar Bears within one, 33-32. After two made free throws by Little Rock, Dominguez drained a 3-pointer of her own and tied the game at 35-35, with 5:28 left in the third. The Trojans responded with a 5-0 run to close out the quarter and took a 42-35 lead into the final period.
 
UCA managed to pull within one on two separate occasions, the second on a jumper by Savanna Walker with 7:09 left in regulation. After Ayanna Trigg had the ball stolen from her, she did not give up on the play and ran down the Little Rock player and forced a turnover to give UCA some life. The Sugar Bears managed to pull within five points with 1:29 left in regulation, but the inexperience of the team led to the Trojans extending their lead. Little Rock finished the game on a 5-0 run and claimed a 60-50 victory.
 
Bre'Amber Scott posted a game-high 24 points, with 16 coming in the fourth quarter alone. Brianna Crane was also in double-digits for the Trojans with 12 points. Mayra Caicedo collected a game-high six assists to lead the Trojans. Dariel Johnson brought down a game-high six rebounds.
 
Outlaw led UCA with 19 points, including a game-high four 3-pointers. Outlaw, Lasker, and Lucy Ibeh finished tied for the team lead with two assists. Ayanna Trigg and Ibeh led the Sugar Bears on the glass with four rebounds each.

UCA holds a 14-10 lead in the Governor's I-40 Showdown after tonight's game.

The Sugar Bears look to bounce back on Friday, Dec. 18, as UAPB is set to make the trip to the Farris Center. Central Arkansas won the matchup, 74-70, earlier in the season. The game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. tip and admission to the game is free.
 
From the Coach – Head Coach Sandra Rushing
"I'm very disappointed, I thought we had an opportunity to win. I thought we came out fighting and playing hard. It's the same pattern over and over that we lose focus of our game plan if something doesn't go right. We were out of sync offensively. We don't know our offenses. I've got to do a better job of getting them understanding our offenses. Moving forward, we just need to win. Just because we beat them (UAPB) on the road, doesn't mean that we don't have to prepare for them. We've got to come out and stick with the game plan. We are a very inexperienced team at the moment and it shows at times."

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