CONWAY -- The University of Central Arkansas women's basketball team held on to first place in the Southland Conference standings Saturday with a sturdy defensive performance in its 51-39 victory over Lamar at the Farris Center.
Both teams entered the game undefeated in conference play, and UCA (11-4, 4-0) had the conference's top defense (49.6 points allowed per game, second nationally) and Lamar (8-6, 3-1) had the conference's top offense (82.3 points per game, 21st nationally).
Associate Coach Greg Long stood in for Coach Sandra Rushing during the University of Central Arkansas’ 51-39 victory over Lamar. Rushing has been in Mississippi with family since her father died Thursday.
Long also stood in for Rushing during UCA’s conference openers against Texas A&M Corpus-Christi and Southeastern Louisiana.
Rushing returned for the Sugar Bears’ 69-44 home victory on Wednesday night.
Long said Rushing will return for UCA’s game at Incarnate Word on Jan. 10.
“It’s been hard,” Baudoin said. “Just because we’re used to Coach [Rushing] being here and giving us the game plan and everything. But I feel like Coach Long and the assistants have stepped up and we’re really playing for her right now.”
Baudoin said Rushing was watching the game from Mississippi and spoke with the team on the phone before the game, during halftime and after the game.
“She’s still watching,” Baudoin said. “She’s still coaching, texting our trainer when she sees stuff to tell the coaches what adjustments to make. She’s still with us.”
After the game, a cell phone was passed around the players.
“She just said that she’s proud of us,” Baudoin said.
UCA held the Cardinals to their fewest points since a 80-34 loss to Baylor on Nov. 9, 2012. The Sugar Bears have now held five opponents to less than 40 points this season.
"We have preached for years and years and years that defense wins championships, and we've proven that the last two years," said UCA associate coach Greg Long, who stood in for Coach Sandra Rushing who has been with her family since her father died Thursday. "They held [Lamar] to almost 40 points less than what they normally score. So a tremendous job by our girls."
The game plan, Long said, was to keep Lamar from driving and force long-range shots. The Cardinals entered the game with a 29.0 three-point percentage that ranked 252nd nationally.
UCA held Lamar to a 26.8 shooting percentage (15 of 56).
"We were packing it in to avoid their driving," said UCA junior forward Taylor Baudoin, who had a game-high 19 points with 7 rebounds and 3 assists. "Make them shoot outside, because they don't shoot well unless they just get really hot."
On the second possession of the game, Lamar senior guard DeA'ngela Mathis made a three-pointer to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.
Lamar wouldn't score again for another five minutes of game play.
The Sugar Bears' 2-3 defense forced Lamar into six consecutive missed jump shots, while UCA went on a 7-0 run.
UCA junior guard Kamry Orr made a three-pointer from the left wing to give the Sugar Bears a 5-3 lead with 6:38 left in the first quarter. During the run, Orr had five points, a steal and a rebound. She finished with 11 points.
Lamar junior guard Moe Kinard broke the Cardinals' scoreless streak with a jumper from the right elbow to pull within 7-5.
The Cardinals would never come as close again, as they turned the ball over six times the rest of the quarter and missed their final five shots.
Baudoin and junior center Kierra Jordan dominated the lane, combining for 17 points to extend the lead to 27-15 at the half.
Lamar's Kinard scored 15 of her 18 points during the second half, and she led the Cardinals on a 13-3 run to come within 43-34 with 7:48 left in the game.
"It's a big win for us," Baudoin said. "Lamar came in here last year and really put a beating on us [70-56]. Me being on the team last year, I just came in really focused and refusing to lose. It separates us a little bit and gives us good standing for the seasons."
UCA will next play at Incarnate Word in San Antonio on Jan. 10.
SUN BELT WOMEN
UALR 64,
GEORGIA SOUTHERN 34
Ronjanae DeGray finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds as the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (7-8, 4-0 Sun Belt) routed Georgia Southern (3-12, 0-4) at Hanner Fieldhouse in Statesboro, Ga.
The Trojans held the Eagles to 22.9 percent shooting (11 of 48), which was the lowest shooting percentage by an UALR opponent this season.
Tori Lasker had 13 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists for the Trojans. She also made 3 three-pointers. Terrion Moore scored 10 points and had four rebounds. The Trojans shot 51.3 percent (20 of
39) and made 7 three-pointers. They outrebounded the Eagles 37-22 and forced 17 turnovers.
UALR led 11-6 at the end of the first quarter. A 7-0 run in the second quarter helped the Trojans extend their lead to 26-16 by halftime. The Trojans stretched their lead to 41-24 in the third quarter. Rhein Beamon led the Eagles with six points.
ARKANSAS STATE 75,
GEORGIA STATE 58
Four players scored at least 10 points for Arkansas State University (8-7, 3-1) in a victory over Georgia State (4-11, 0-4) at the GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta. Lauren Bradshaw led the Red Wolves with 21 points and seven rebounds. Akasha Westbrook finished with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Morgan Wallace scored a career-high 13 points and Payton Tennison added 10 points.
ASU shot 49.2 percent (30 of 61) from the floor. The Red Wolves scored 29 points off 19 Georgia State turnovers. In the second quarter, ASU used a 12-2 run to build its lead to 42-30 by halftime. ASU took a 62-47 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Panthers were led by Kierra Henry, who scored 16 points. Shay Fluker added 10 points. They finished 23-of-64 shooting (35.9 percent) and were held to 3 of 17 from three-point range.
SWAC WOMEN
ALABAMA A&M 52, UAPB 49
Ashlyn Dotson finished with 11 points and four rebounds to lead Alabama A&M (6-8, 1-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) past Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3-9, 1-1) in Huntsville, Ala.
Nigeria Jones and Natalie Collins each scored nine points for the Lady Bulldogs, with Jones chipping in five rebounds and four steals.
Faith Ohanta recorded 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Lady Lions. Aiya Hassan added 12 points and four rebounds.
Sports on 01/07/2018