Sugar Bears Suffer Third Straight Loss, Fall 53-45 at SFA

Courtesy University of Central Arkansas Athletics Department

NACOGDOCHES, Texas —Trailing five with 30 seconds to go, Central Arkansas missed three shots and committed two turnovers down the stretch as the Sugar Bears fell 53-48 to Stephen F. Austin for their third consecutive loss. 

“I thought the effort was there, but the only thing I can say is dumb basketball,” said UCA head coach Sandra Rushing, whose team lost for the fourth time in five games. “We’ve got to make smart decisions down the stretch. We’re not blocking out, we’re giving up second and third shots. We had our chance down the stretch.”

The Sugar Bears (13-9, 6-5 Southland), losers of three straight Southland Conference games for the first time since 2009, shot just 27.8 percent (15 of 54) for the game and had six assists to 15 turnovers. They allowed the Ladyjacks (10-12, 5-6) 15 offensive rebounds, including 10 in the second half, and SFA got 21 points off of UCA turnovers. 

The Ladyjacks remained perfect against UCA in Nacogdoches (5-0) despite shooting just 30.4 percent, including going just 9 of 40 (22.5 percent) inside the arc. SFA was 6 of 16 from 3-point range.

“It’s disappointing,” Rushing said. “I felt like we went in with a great game plan, but some of our shots and decision-making shouldn’t be happening in February. We say one thing in the huddle, then when we step out on the floor there’s another huddle. I sure would like to be involved in that huddle, I can promise you that. We leave the huddle out of the timeout, step back out on the floor, and there’s something different going on.”

The Sugar Bears’ starting five of Courtney Duever, Britney Gowans, Megan Herbert, Julia Mason and Tracey Parsons accounted for all but one of the Sugar Bears’ field goal attempts, with none hitting more than four. Leading scorers Herbert and Duever who had 11 each, were a combined 6 of 25 from the field. Herbert, Gowans and Parsons each had nine rebounds. 

“We talked about getting the ball into the post, and I don’t think tonight we did a very good job of that,” Rushing said. “We missed a lot of block-outs, gave up several 3s, and we’re coming out with our hands down.”

The Ladyjacks got 17 points from Porsha Roberts, and nine points and 10 rebounds from Tierany Henderson.

The Sugar Bears will conclude their road swing when they travel to Natchitoches, La. on Saturday to take on Northwestern State at 1 p.m.