CONWAY — For the second straight game, Central Arkansas was dominant from the outset and led the entire way as the Sugar Bears followed up Wednesday's 53-29 rout of Lamar with a 70-49 romp over McNeese in the Farris Center on Saturday.
The Sugar Bears (11-11, 7-6 Southland) notched their third straight win – the second in a row in convincing fashion on their home floor – as they jumped on the Cowgirls (5-17, 2-11) 42-22 in the first half and built a lead as large as 30 in the fourth quarter en route to their 9th consecutive victory over the Cowgirls.
It was the third straight time the Sugar Bears have defeated the Cowgirls by double digits, by an average of 21.7 points, having won by 31 last season in the Farris Center in the lone meeting between the teams, and winning by 13 earlier this season in Lake Charles.
In this year's first win over the Cowgirls, the Sugar Bears did their damage at the free throw line – hitting a season-high 24. It was a different story on Saturday, as the Sugar Bears had their way around the basket – outscoring the Cowgirls 38-8 in the paint as they shot 47.5 percent overall and 51.9 percent on two-point field goals.
Leading the charge was junior forward
Briana Trigg, who got her first double-double with career highs of 24 points (on 10-of-14 shooting) and 11 rebounds in 38 minutes. The 24 points is the most a Sugar Bear has scored against a Division I opponent this season, and equals freshman forward
Terri Crawford's 24-point effort against Hendrix on Nov. 12 for the most overall this season.
Crawford, who did not see the floor at all on Wednesday, turned in her best game of late with 11 points, 4 rebounds and a pair of steals in just under 16 minutes – just her second time to reach double digits in the last 18 games. Senior guard
Taylor Sells added 11 points and 6 rebounds, while junior forward
Ayanna Trigg continued her solid efforts on the glass – pulling down 9 rebounds to go with 5 points, giving her 59 rebounds over the last 6 games, an average of 9.8 per game.
The 70 points equals the Sugar Bears' highest total against a Division I opponent this season, matching the first win over McNeese, a 70-57 victory in Lake Charles on Jan. 4.
After outrebounding Lamar 62-28 on Wednesday, the Sugar Bears controlled that aspect of the game again on Saturday - getting 42 to McNeese's 28. The Sugar Bears have now won the rebound battle in 14 of their last 15 games by an average of 10.5 per game.
Though the Sugar Bears committed 17 turnovers to McNeese's 16, they were able to make more out of them – scoring 26 points off turnovers to just 12 for the Cowgirls.
With the win, the Sugar Bears move into 7th place in the Southland standings – a half game behind Southeastern Louisiana for 6th and one game back of New Orleans for 5th.
A road trip to New Orleans followed by third-place Sam Houston State looms next week for the Sugar Bears, before finishing the regular season with 4 of the last 5 in the Farris Center. League leader Stephen F. Austin visits on Feb. 19, followed by Nicholls on the 22nd. After a trip to Abilene Christian on the 29th, the Sugar Bears conclude their drive for a 10th-straight Southland Conference Tournament berth with Southeastern Louisiana on March 4 and Northwestern State on March 7.
