CONWAY, Ark. – Back at home for two games this week, the Central Arkansas women's basketball team takes the court to face Jacksonville on Thursday and North Florida on Saturday. Tip-off against the Dolphins is set for 5 p.m., followed by a 1 p.m. tip against the Ospreys on Saturday.
The Sugar Bears picked up another win on the road against Kennesaw State last Saturday, improving to 14-6 overall and 6-1 in Atlantic Sun games. Despite a sluggish first half, the Sugar Bears picked it up in the second half, ending the game on an 8-0 run in the final two minutes to claim the road win. It marked the seventh road win of the season for Central Arkansas, the first season with seven wins away from home since 2017-18.
This season continues to be about balance from the roster: the leading scorer against the Owls was three Sugar Bears scoring 13 points (
Jade Upshaw,
Kinley Fisher,
Leah Mafua).
Randrea Wright also played a big part, scoring all seven of her points in the fourth quarter and minimizing the impact of the Kennesaw press.
The four guards have been critical to the success of the Sugar Bears, and they all continue to average ten-plus points per game. But the oft unsung post players have been key in conference games, with rebounding and post defense playing a big role in the ASUN.
Elizabeth Abiara,
Cheyenne Banks and
Bree Stephens have combined for 20.6 rebound and 24 blocked shots in the first seven games of the conference slate, while altering who knows how many other shots.
Jacksonville visits Conway for the first time with a 6-13 record, going 2-4 in its first six ASUN games. Last time out, the Dolphins picked up a home win against Bellarmine, routing the Knights with an 87-69 finish. Jacksonville did what it always does, muscling in for 32 points in the paint and shooting 35 free throws. The Dolphins are fifth in the NCAA in free throw attempts per game, going to the line 24.58 times per game.
Edyn Battle leads the team in scoring, averaging 19.0 points per game. The junior guard leads her team in field goals, three-pointers, free throws, assists and steals. Saniyah Craig leads the team in rebounding, pulling in 7.4 rebounds per contest. The Dolphins struggle with turnovers, however, coughing up 23.5 turnovers a game.
On Saturday, the Ospreys roll into town, boasting a 7-13 record with a 1-5 run in conference. Last time out, North Florida dropped a 23-point loss to Eastern Kentucky, scoring only 23 points in the second half. Emma Broermann tallied a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, leading the team in both categories.
Lyric Swann is the team's top scorer, averaging 11.0 points per game. She is one of three double-digit scorers, with Kaila Rougier and Jayla Adams also in double-figures. All three players have 25 or more three-pointers, with Swann connecting on 45 this season. Alexa Washington is the fourth Osprey to hit 25 or more treys this season, with 33 triples to her name.
Tip-off against the Dolphins is set for 5 p.m. in the Farris Center on Thursday, with the Ospreys rolling into town for a 1 p.m. start on Saturday. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+, with live stats available online. As always, fans can follow the action on The Bear 91.3 as well.
