THIBODAUX, La. – After taking a week off due to inclement weather, the Central Arkansas women's basketball team returned to action for a Saturday matchup with Nicholls. The Sugar Bears improved to 8-11 overall, 6-5 in the Southland Conference, while the Colonels fell to 7-12 overall and 6-6 in SLC play.
Lucy Ibeh led the team with 20 points in UCA's 61-50 victory. Central Arkansas picked up its 900th win in program history.
Central Arkansas started the game with a 5-0 run, but Nicholls answered with a 5-0 run of its own and tied the game at 5-5 with 7:21 left in the first. The Sugar Bears responded with an 8-0 run and gained a 13-5 lead with 4:45 left in the quarter. The Colonels ended the quarter on an 11-0 run and took a 16-13 lead into the second quarter.
The Sugar Bear defense picked up the intensity in the second quarter as they held the Colonels to just six points. UCA scored the quarter's first five points, before Nicholls made two free throws. Ibeh accounted for four of the team's first six points of the second quarter. With the score 22-20,
Carley Hudspeth drained a 3-pointer to put UCA up, 25-20 with just over four minutes left in the half. After the Colonels made a 3-pointer to cut UCA's lead to 25-22, the Sugar Bears went on a 5-0 run to close out the half and take a 30-22 lead into the half.
Ibeh started the third quarter with a steal and a fast-break layup and gave UCA a 10-point lead, 32-22.
Savanna Walker scored UCA's next six points and outscored Nicholls, 6-2, during the stretch. With just under a minute left in the third quarter, the Sugar Bears had a 15-point lead. After a Colonels' 3-pointer,
Briana Trigg made a free throw and gave UCA a 45-32 lead at the end of the third.
Nicholls started the fourth on a 6-0 run and cut the Central Arkansas lead to seven, 45-38 with 7:34 left in regulation. The Colonels managed to cut the UCA lead to nine points on two separate occasions, but the Sugar Bears pulled away down the stretch and claimed a 61-50 victory.
Ibeh led UCA with 20 points and added five rebounds and a game-high three steals. Walker finished with 15 points and two rebounds. Brianna Trigg finished in double-digits with 10 points and a game-high seven rebounds.
Ayanna Trigg added 10 points, a team-high four assists, and collected two rebounds.
Chelsea Cain led Nicholls with 20 points, five rebounds, and two steals. Anna McKendree chipped in with 11 points and added two rebounds. Jazmyn Womack posted a game-high two blocks.
The Sugar Bears return to the court on Monday, Feb. 22, at Stephen F. Austin. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. tip.
From the Coach – Head Coach Sandra Rushing
"I'm very proud of our players! It was a great road win for us! I thought we played unselfish today. The scoring was more balanced. This was a complete team effort."
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