SOUTHLAND WOMEN
NEW ORLEANS 52,
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 48
CONWAY -- Halle Matthews scored 15 points and New Orleans snapped UCA's eight-game winning streak by holding the Sugar Bears to three points in the third quarter of their Southland Conference game at the Farris Center.
Matthews, a 6-0 senior forward, was 6-of-9 shooting, including a 3-of-5 effort on three-pointers. She also grabbed four rebounds and made two steals as the Privateers (8-10, 4-3) won for the third time in their past four outings.
Central Arkansas (13-5, 6-1) went 1 of 10 from the floor in the third quarter as New Orleans overcame a 28-26 halftime deficit to take a 40-31 lead into the final 10 minutes.
Kierra Jordan hit a layup with 3:34 remaining to pull UCA to within 48-45, but Matthews hit a putback with 2:54 showing that put the Privateers back up by five. UCA did not hit another field goal until Jordan's putback at the final buzzer.
Jordan finished with a team-high 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Kamry Orr added 11 points for UCA.
The loss was the first at home this season for the Sugar Bears, who came into the game 8-0 at the Farris Center.
SOUTHLAND MEN
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 81,
NEW ORLEANS 57
NEW ORLEANS -- Jordan Howard and Mathieu Kamba combined for 47 points and 12 rebounds as the University of Central Arkansas stunned host New Orleans on Wednesday night at the Lakefront Arena.
Howard hit 8 of 17 field-goal attempts, and was good on all 6 of his free throws to score a game-high 24 points. Kamba was 7 of 10 from the floor and 9 of 10 from the line for 23 points. Both finished with six rebounds.
Central Arkansas (10-10, 4-3 Southland Conference) won for the third time in its past four games. New Orleans (8-10, 5-2) lost for only the second time in the past seven games and suffered its first home loss of the season.
Central Arkansas never trailed after the game's opening minute and led 40-23 at the half. The Bears' largest lead was 25 (75-45), which came with 7:26 remaining.
Thatch Unruh added 12 points for UCA. DeAndre Jones led the Bears in assists (seven) and steals (five).
Tavin Thibodeaux led the Privateers with 18 points.
-- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Sports on 01/18/2018