Sugar Bears give Central Methodist scraps before holiday
As Thanksgiving neared, the cupboard was bare for Central Methodist on Wedesday afternoon against the University of Central Arkansas Sugar Bears.
There were only scraps at the Farris Center for the visitors as the Sugar Bears powered to a 65-22 victory over their outmanned NAIA opponent, the third straight game the UCA women have led from start to finish.
The 22 points is the lowest total allowed since the UCA women's program began in 1976. The previous mark came in 2003 when UCA downed Puerto Rico-Cayey 116-25.
The Lady Eagles shot just 13.1 percent from the floor, going 8-for-61including a one-for-20 start that left them scoreless until the 12-minute mark. CMU had just nine points at the half. “We came out today really focused on the defensive end,” head coach Matt Daniel said. “I told our team during the last media timeout that (CMU) had 17 points and the record is 25 – how do you want to get down? They said ‘get the record’ and they locked in.” In the third straight win for the Sugar Bears (3-2), UCA dominatednearly every aspect of the game – outrebounding CMU 58-39, holding a 38-8 advantage on points in the paint and getting 24 points off turnovers to just nine for the Lady Eagles.
UCA got 31 points off the bench, including a game-high 13points from freshman forward Desiree’ Rogers of Camden. Rogers led three freshman Sugar Bears in double figures, includingWestin Taylor – who had 11 points – and Megan Herbert, who had her fifth consecutive double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. It’s the first time since 2003-04 that a UCA player has recorded fivestraight double-doubles.
