CARBONDALE, Ill. — Megan Herbert scored 32 points, pulled down a career-high 24 rebounds and hit 14 free throws in leading the University of Central Arkansas Sugar Bears to a 59-46 victory at Southern Illinois on Tuesday.
While it was the 10th 30-point game and third 20-rebound game of Herbert's career, it was the first time she hit both marks in the same game. It was her 68th career double-double, moving her into a tie for ninth most by a Division I women's basketball player.
With her outburst on Tuesday, she now ranks ninth in Southland Conference history in scoring with 1,784 points, seventh in rebounding with 1,135 and third in free throws made with 518.
The win is the first in three tries for the Sugar Bears (2-0) against the Salukis (0-1), who won the previous meetings in 2007 and 2008. The game was won largely at the free-throw line, as Central Arkansas was 27 of 36 (75 percent) while SIU was just 4 for 9 (44.4 percent). The Sugar Bears limited SIU to just 28.6 percent shooting for the game and won the rebounding battle 55-39.
Herbert was the only player to reach double figures for Central Arkansas, with Britney Gowans adding seven points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists in 27 minutes off the bench. Chantel Moss added nine rebounds in 19 minutes. SIU was led by Alexus Patterson's 11 points and six rebounds.
The Sugar Bears will resume action at 6 p.m. on Friday when they travel to Alcorn State.