CONWAY, Ark. – The Sugar Bears basketball team turned in another stifling defensive performance at home Saturday afternoon, defeating the ULM Warhawks 62-41. Junior
Lucy Ibeh posted her first double-double of the season in the win, notching 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Senior
Hannah Langhi added 17 of her own, while
Jayla Cody reached double-figures for the second time this season.
"I thought we played pretty unselfishly today," Head coach
Sandra Rushing said of the win. "We beat a really good team today, and we did it as a team."
After a dominating first quarter in which UCA built a double-digit lead, the Warhawks pulled within six to close the first half. A refocused Central Arkansas pulled away in the second half, never leaving any doubt down the stretch.
The Sugar Bears launched off to an 8-0 start, getting four quick points from Cody, establishing both a strong defensive game plan while also working hard to get inside the paint on offense. The run reached as much as 12-2 before the Louisiana Monroe offense started to find its groove, and the Warhawks scored seven of their 11 first quarter points in the final four minutes. UCA led 20-11 after the first stanza.
Central Arkansas' offense slowed considerably in the second, but the defense remained intense as in the first. Ibeh added four more points to her total, reaching eight at the halfway mark. The lead stood at six points at the halfway break, 29-23.
Experience took over in the third quarter, as Ibeh and Langhi powered their way to baskets in the quarter. The duo combined for 15 of the 24 UCA points and eight rebounds, outscoring the opposition by themselves. It was during the third that Ibeh grabbed her tenth rebound, clinching the double-double with time to spare. On the other end, the defense allowed just eight points on 3-of-13 shooting.
Once in the fourth quarter, the defense locked down the Warhawks, limiting them to 10 points on just two field goals. In all, the second half fell 33-18 in favor of the Sugar Bears. The UCA defense held Louisiana Monroe to just 5-of-26 shooting, a 19.2 percent clip, using stifling defense at the rim to pull away for their second win of the season.
The Sugar Bears stay at home for the next couple of games, playing Alcorn State next Tuesday. Tip-off against the Braves is set for 7 p.m. at the Farris Center.
