CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas women's basketball team prepares for its first home weekend of the ASUN season, playing Lipscomb on Thursday before facing Austin Peay on Saturday. Tip-off against the Bisons is set for 5 p.m., with the game against the Governors set for 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Last Saturday's ASUN opener was a resounding success, as the Sugar Bears (9-5, 1-0 ASUN) started the conference slate with a 21-point win over North Alabama. It marked the first time that the Sugar Bears won its ASUN conference opener, and the first 80-point game in an ASUN game since joining the league.
Kinley Fisher scored a career-high 24 points, adding three shots from beyond the arc. Fisher has averaged 19.3 points per game over her last three games, including back-to-back performances of 20 points or more.
Jade Upshaw also played well against the Lions, recording her first-career double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) and adding three steals. She was named the ASUN's Newcomer of the Week for her performance, the first weekly award of the season for Central Arkansas.
Fisher and Upshaw continue to be two of the driving forces for the Sugar Bear offense, with Fisher leading the team at 13.2 points per game and Upshaw at 11.4. They are joined in double-figures by
Randrea Wright (11.3 ppg) and
Leah Mafua (10.2 ppg). Together, the four guards have combined for nearly 650 points, 80 three-pointers and 61 steals while shooting 35.4 percent from three.
Last season's game against Lipscomb, though the final score didn't break the Sugar Bears' way, was one of the most complete games by the three returners (Fisher, Wright and
Kierra Prim). Combining for 39 points, 13 rebounds and five three-pointers, the trio was responsible for nearly 70 percent of the scoring, 38 percent of the rebounds, and 83 percent of the three-pointers.
This season's Lipscomb squad (9-6, 2-0 ASUN) enters the week with a three-game winning streak, all of which was at home. The Bisons started 2-0 in conference games, defending home court against EKU and Bellarmine last week, picking up a pair of double-digit wins. Against EKU, the Bisons held the Colonels to 35 percent shooting from the floor and 21 percent from three, shutting down the visitors for a 64-59 win. Then against Bellarmine, the Bisons tallied 76 points while holding the Knights to 34 percent from the field and 26 percent from three.
Claira McGowan led Lipscomb in scoring across both games, scoring 18 and 19 points, respectively. The two wins stretched a streak of double-digit scoring games to four for McGowan, who ranks third on her team in points per game at 10.9. Bella Vinson, who has only scored less than ten points in three games this season, leads the team with 12.2 points per game. The junior guard is second on her team in field goals (69), three-pointers (23) and third in free throws (22), and is the only player on Lipscomb's team to reach ten steals and ten blocks so far this year.
On Saturday, the Sugar Bears will face Austin Peay, who starts its week with a 9-7 record overall, a 2-0 start to ASUN games, and a three-game winning streak. The Governors will play North Alabama on Thursday before coming to Conway, and also started conference play with wins over Bellarmine and EKU.
Against the Colonels, four Governors scored in double-figures, led by Shamarre Hale's 15 points. Hale also added 13 rebounds, notching a double-double in both conference games so far this year. Defensively, Austin Peay held EKU to just 25 percent shooting, despite giving up 24 more field goals. Then, the Governors saw nine lead changes in the game against Bellarmine, coming all the way down to the wire, where late free throws helped Austin Peay escape with a two-point win. Hale finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Abby Cater led the way with 18 points.
Hale leads the team in scoring (12.0 ppg), rebounding (7.1 rpg) and blocks (15). She leads her team in all three categories despite starting only three games this season, averaging just 19.1 minutes per game. She is joined in double-figure scoring by Cater (11.2 ppg) and Anala Nelson (10.3 ppg).
Thursday's game against Lipscomb is set for 5 p.m., and Saturday's game against Austin Peay is slated for a 1 p.m. start. Both games will be on ESPN+, have live stats available, and will also be streamed at The Bear 91.3.
