McCollum's Column: Sugar Bears make things spicy on way to 19 wins
If you’re looking for a smooth ride, go elsewhere.
These Central Arkansas Sugar Bears often sputter out of the chute, shake somewhat on initial acceleration, go precariously tight around curves, seem to find every pothole in the road, leak a little bit of oil but find an extra gear down the stretch.
The UCA women are 19-5, in first place in the Southland Conference at 8-1 — and more than a few folks are scratching their heads about how they got there.
Just a week ago, they trailed a struggling, four-win UT Arlington team 40-14 in the second half and won.
Wednesday night, the Sugar Bears held a nine-point lead over Texas State with 1:58 to go, forcing the Bobcats to foul in a desperation catchup attempt. The Sugar Bears went six for 16 at the line and needed an offensive foul and a technical foul and two free throws in the final seconds to pull away.
It’s both fun and unnerving to for the Sugar Bears’ fans, coaches and players to live so much on the edge.
But somehow, someway — and in a different manner by a variety of characters — the Sugar Bears are getting it done. The whole is certainly better than the individual parts, which are scattered and smothered on any given day.
Post Megan Herbert, who became the fifth Sugar Bear to pass 1,000 rebounds for a career, is a constant driving force. She’s a double-double waiting to happen.
But it’s incredible how various other parts operate about her and have connected in various combinations to form a life raft in raging conditions.
Micah Rice and Desiree Rogers both hit key 3-pointers in a double-overtime win over McNeese State.
Marci Moffitt came off the bench to hit a vital basket in that game.
Post Courtney Duever helped rescue the Sugar Bears in coming from behind against Northwestern State.
When all seemed lost at UTA, seldom-used substitutes Britney Gowans and Chantel Moss amazingly righted the ship and helped fuel the comeback.
Destinee Rogers, who was shooting 16 percent from 3-point range going into the Texas State game, suddenly turned into a sharpshooter, hitting six 3-pointers, three in a row at one point.
Between Rogers’ gunning, Nakeia Guiden gave the Bobcats fits with penetrating drives.
Westin Taylor came off the bench, didn’t score, but took a pivotal charge in the final seconds, which got Texas State star Diamond Ford so frustrated, she incurred a technical foul.
That’s just the way this team rolls with almost equal parts of aggravation, entertainment and satisfaction. Even close observers don’t know where, or from whom, the key spark is going to originate.
And coach Matt Daniel, like a clever, slightly mad scientist mixing formulas, has done a brilliant job of concocting the right combination at the right time on the way to 19 victories and eight straight wins.
The Sugar Bears, with an often freaky kind of balance, are comfortable teetering on the tightrope.
(Sports columnist David McCollum can be reached at 505-1235 or david.mccollum@thecabin.net)
