STILLWATER, Okla. – Playing a Big 12 opponent on the road, the Central Arkansas women's basketball team fought valiantly for four quarters against Oklahoma State. Despite staying close in the second and fourth quarters, the Sugar Bears fell 89-58.
 
Wednesday marks the first loss of the season for the Sugar Bears, who had started 3-0 for the first time in a decade. Jade Upshaw tied a career-high with 22 points for the second-straight game, Kinley Fisher notched 14, but the size and length of the Cowgirls was too much to overcome.
 
Oklahoma State came flying out of the gates, scoring the first nine points of the game before Central Arkansas settled in a bit and got on the board. Fisher hit an and-one midway through the frame to get the Sugar Bears back within two possessions, but a 10-0 run by the Cowgirls stretched the lead back out. The sides traded baskets until the end of the first, and Central Arkansas trailed 30-12 after one.
 
The Sugar Bears got off the mat and fought back in the second, matching the home team basket for basket all the way through the quarter. Destine Duckworth cashed in on seven-straight points in three possessions midway through the frame, splitting a pair of free throws before draining a pair of triples. Upshaw also got going in the second, going on a personal seven-point run of her own near the end of the half. The Cowgirls, though, were able to match the scoring, but only increased the lead by three in the second quarter.
 
Any of the good shooting that the Sugar Bears had in the second quarter abandoned them in the third, allowing the Cowgirls to come out and add to their lead. While Central Arkansas shot just 20 percent from the field, Oklahoma State shot 50 percent, increasing the deficit.
 
But the Sugar Bears remained undeterred, executing sets in the fourth quarter and hunting good shots. Central Arkansas was able to turn the Cowgirls over five times in the final frame, switching possessions to stay in the mix. Fisher and Upshaw were the driving forces in the fourth, diving to the cup for layups and trips to the free throw line, and the pair combined for 12 points in the fourth. Jenna Cook scored her first points against a Power 4 squad in the quarter, connecting on a corner three, her fourth make from distance of the season.
 
Central Arkansas is back on the court on Monday, returning home for a game against Central Baptist College in the Farris Center. Tip-off against the Mustangs is set for 6:30 p.m.