CONWAY, Ark. — The University of Central Arkansas women's basketball team (1-3) played its home opener on Saturday as the Kansas State Wildcats (2-1) traveled to the Farris Center. This was just the third time in UCA history that a Power 5 conference made the trip to Conway. Lucy Ibeh led UCA with 13 points and 10 rebounds, but the Sugar Bears fell to the Wildcats, 47-33.
 
The first quarter was a defense battle as the two combined for 16 points. Kansas State collected 11 points on 30.0 percent from the field, while UCA shot 11.1 percent and tallied five points. Ibeh led the Sugar Bears with four points and added four rebounds. At the end of the first, the Wildcats led UCA, 11-5.
 
Central Arkansas improved its shooting in the second quarter with a 14.3 field goal percentage. The Sugar Bears' defense held K-State to 16.7 percent from the field. At the half, the Sugar Bears defense held K-State to just 22.7 percent from the field. Ibeh led the team with six rebounds and five points at the break. Terri Crawford added four points. Savanna Walker finished the half with two assists. K-State led at the half, 18-12.
 
The Sugar Bears came out strong in the third quarter, as Ibeh opened the second with a layup and pulled UCA within four, 18-14. Ibeh added another layup at 6:40, to bring the deficit to just two, 18-16. Kansas State extended its lead to as much as eight points, 28-20, with 3:17 left in the period. With under a minute to go in the quarter, Hannah Langhi knocked down two free throws and cut the K-State lead to two points, 28-26. After the UCA defense forced a turnover, Romola Dominguez hit a clutch 3-pointer and gave Central Arkansas its first lead since early in the first. The Wildcats hit a 3-point shot as time was winding down and reclaimed the lead, 31-29, as the game headed to the final period. The Sugar Bears outscored the Wildcats, 17-13, in the third. Crawford and Ibeh each posted six points in the quarter.
 
After Ibeh tied the game at, 31-31, with a fast-break layup, the Kansas State offense went on a 12-0 run that ended with 1:16 left in regulation. Dominguez knocked down a jumper and made the score 43-33. K-State ended the game on a 4-0 run, and won by a final score of 47-33.
 
The UCA defense held the Wildcats to a season-low 34.1 percent from the field. The Sugars Bears surrendered the fewest points on the season and held K-State to just 47 points, which was a season-low for the Wildcats. As a team, Central Arkansas recorded more second-chance points, 7-3, than Kansas State. The Wildcats outrebounded the Sugar Bears, 40-37, collected more bench points, 22-19, and had the advantage with points in the paint, 18-14.
 
Taylor Lauterbach and Rachel Ranke led K-State with nine points each. Lauterbach added a game-high 12 rebounds and a game-high six blocks. Cymone Goodrich produced a game-high six assists.
 
Ibeh recorded her first career double-double, with her game-high 13 points and 10 rebounds, which led the Sugar Bears. Ibeh finished with a game-high two steals as well. Crawford compiled a season-high 10 points. Walker finished with a team-high four assists.
 
The Sugar Bears return to action for a matchup against No. 16 Arkansas on Sunday, Dec. 13, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. tip.
 
From the Coach – Head Coach Sandra Rushing
"I thought our effort was good, but I didn't like our focus. That's what I'm upset about. We can say we're a young team, but we're not a young team, we're just hardheaded at times. However, we got through that and that's why you play the non-conference portion of the schedule. Do I believe in this team? Absolutely! We're going to make sure we get everything right before conference. We've had suspensions and people out with injuries. Now we can get to work and try to figure out how to win a championship."

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