CONWAY, Ark. – After a week off for the holidays, the Central Arkansas women's basketball team will close the 2024 calendar year with an in-state matchup with the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sunday. Game time against the SEC foe is set for 2 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena.
The Sugar Bears (6-4) look to bounce back after a couple of tough games in New Orleans last weekend. The shooting struggles continue for Central Arkansas; after shooting nearly 50 percent in the month on November, the Sugar Bears are only shooting 35 percent in December. Additionally, the three-pointer hasn't been falling the way it did early in the season. The first month of the season, Central Arkansas hit double-digit threes three times. Since the turn of December, the month-high has been just six.
The defense has kept the Sugar Bears in games, however. Three times, Central Arkansas has held its opponents under 60 points. Twice in December, the Sugar Bears have logged ten or more steals, and three times, five or more blocks.
Cheyenne Banks has a block in four-straight games,
Randrea Wright and
Jade Upshaw have a combined 19 steals in five December games, and
Bree Stephens has compiled nine blocks and six steals in December.
Arkansas (6-8) has not had the greatest start to the year, and is currently on a three-game slide. The Razorbacks have held just four opponents under 65 points, and have allowed 75 in each of the last three losses.
The Razorbacks have relied heavily on the scoring output of Arkansas State transfer Izzy Higginbottom, who averages 23.4 points per game, one of two Razorbacks averaging double-figures. Higginbottom has scored 20 or more in all but five games, and has a season-high of 38 against Boston College.
Similar to Higginbottom's scoring, Arkansas has specialists across the roster; only three players average more than four rebounds, two players average more than one assist per game, and only one player has ten steals or blocks.
Tip-off against the Razorbacks is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+, with live stats available online. Fans can also follow along at 91.3 The Bear, with Steve Owens on the call.
