Comeback Falls Short at Sugar Bears Drop Second Straight

Courtesy University of Central Arkansas Athletics Department

CONWAY — Central Arkansas battled back from 17 down against Nicholls on Saturday, but could not get over the hump as the Colonels scored eight of the game’s final 10 points to close out the 68-62 win and deal the Sugar Bears their third home defeat in four games.

The Sugar Bears (13-8, 6-4 Southland) fell behind by 17 in the first half and trailed by 12 at the half, but clawed their way back and trailed just 53-52 with 9:45 to go. They missed the opportunity to take the lead on five straight possessions, and the Colonels (13-8, 5-5) finally ended a 7:26 scoring drought on a basket from guard KK Babin.

Babin, who had a career-high 32 points for the game, scored the Colonels’ next seven points as they took a 60-56 lead, but the Sugar Bears tied it back up after two free throws from Megan Herbert and a jumper from Desiree’ Rogers with 3:58 to go.

Babin then scored seven of the Colonels’ points during an 8-0 run in the game’s final minutes, holding the Sugar Bears scoreless until two more free throws from Herbert with 13 seconds to set the final score.

Herbert, who averaged 21.1 points and 13.5 rebounds in eight career games against Nicholls coming in to Saturday’s game, had 19 points and 19 rebounds to lead the Sugar Bears in both categories. It was the 77th double-double of her career, putting her in a three-way tie for fourth in Division I history. She was also 13 of 17 at the free throw line, giving her 609 for her career to break Caronica Randle’s school record of 597. Herbert finished the week with averages of 25.5 points and 12.5 rebounds, after going for 32 and six in Thursday’s loss to Southeastern Louisiana.

Courtney Duever and Desiree Rogers each had 15 points for the Sugar Bears, and Britney Gowans added nine.

The loss was the second in a row and third of the Sugar Bears’ four-game home stand. They entered the home stand with the nation’s third-longest home winning streak, having won 22 in a row. It is the first time the Sugar Bears have dropped consecutive regular-season games since losses against Texas Tech and UMKC on Nov. 26-27, 2011. They last dropped consecutive Southland games at McNeese and Sam Houston State in March of 2011, and had not lost two straight at home since losses to Southeastern Louisiana and Stephen F. Austin in 2009.

The Sugar Bears were hampered by 24 turnovers, including 17 in the first half, and shooting just 18.2 percent (2 of 11) from 3-point range. The Colonels shot 64.3 percent (9 of 14) from long range, led by Babin’s 6-of-7 performance.

The Sugar Bears will be on the road next week, traveling Thursday to Stephen F. Austin – where they have yet to win – and Northwestern State on Saturday.