JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It was a tough ending for the Sugar Bears, as the Jacksonville Dolphins hit a last-second shot to steal one away from Central Arkansas, 55-53. Leading by as many as 14 in the second half, the Sugar Bears couldn't quite get enough to hold on for the win, falling to 8-11 on the year.
 
Randrea Wright set a career-high with 19 points, looking confident and staying aggressive throughout, hitting 11 free throws. Jayla Cody added nine points and six rebounds, with three other Sugar Bears adding at least seven points.
 
The first quarter skewed in favor of Central Arkansas, as the team came out and immediately started attacking the paint. Jumping out to a five-point lead, the Sugar Bears continued to put pressure on the Dolphins. Lucy Ibeh took a steal the length of the court at the end of the quarter to put the lead at seven after one.
 
Play evened out in the second quarter, with teams matching buckets throughout. The Sugar Bears stretched the lead to nine, but the Dolphins would counter right back. Jacksonville would make a push, Central Arkansas would answer. The Sugar Bears continued to attack the paint, getting sent to the line, where the team would finish 4-for-4 in the quarter. Wright would finish the half with 10 points and three assists.
 
After the halftime break is where things started to turn for the Sugar Bears. Turnovers started to pile up for Central Arkansas, and the offense ground to a halt at times. Jacksonville started connecting on three-pointers, knocking down a pair in the third. Central Arkansas, on the other hand, continued to get into the paint and draw shooting fouls, taking advantage of swinging defenders and flailing arms. The Sugar Bears needed all of them, converting seven-of-nine from the stripe, holding the Jacksonville rally to just a two-point advantage.
 
Taking a six-point lead into the fourth, Swisher Gymnasium started to turn sour for the Sugar Bears. Shots quit falling, turnovers started taking their toll, and the crowd started getting into the game after being silenced for three quarters. Using an aggressive press, the Dolphins turned the Sugar Bears over on several consecutive possessions, eventually winning on a last-second shot, taking their first lead of the game.
 
Central Arkansas now turns its attention to returning home, where the team faces a top-tier ASUN opponent on Thursday in Florida Gulf Coast. Game time against the Eagles is set for Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Farris Center.