LITTLE ROCK — After struggling through its lowest-scoring first half of the season with just 22 points, Central Arkansas started the second half with a 10-0 run and never looked back as the Sugar Bears defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 55-40 on Saturday afternoon at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Trailing 23-22 at halftime, the Sugar Bears (12-5, 5-1 Southland Conference) took control in the second half and never surrendered the lead as they held the Islanders (1-16, 0-6) to just 17 second-half points on 5-of-25 shooting.
“I thought we came out sluggish in the first half, but I’m really proud of the way we came out and responded in the second half,” UCA Coach Sandra Rushing said. “We were getting pushed around inside a little bit, and we expect that, but I thought Megan [Herbert] and Courtney [Duever] handled it well. I thought Desiree’ [Rogers] played a good second half, and I’ve said it all along that’s something we’ve got to have to win some ballgames.”
In the first 7:19 of the second half, the Sugar Bears outscored the Islanders 18-4 to take a 40-27 lead and never allowed A&M-Corpus Christi to draw closer than seven. The Islanders cut the lead to 49-40 with 2:27 remaining, but the Sugar Bears sealed the victory with the game’s final six points — getting their biggest lead and final basket of the game on a layup by Herbert with 1:22 to play.
Herbert finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Duever had 11 points and 12 rebounds. The duo combined to hit 10 of 12 free throws as the Sugar Bears finished 16 of 18 (88.9 percent) from the line.
The Sugar Bears outrebounded the Islanders 41-34 and forced 19 turnovers while committing just 12.
UCA will host two-time defending Southland Conference champion McNeese State on Thursday at the Farris Center in Conway.
SWAC WOMEN
TEXAS SOUTHERN 65, ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 61
PINE BLUFF — Texas Southern (8-9, 5-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) outscored Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-10, 2-4) 44-34 in the second half for a victory at H.O. Clemmons Arena. Teera Williams finished with 22 points and 16 rebounds for the Tigers, who shot 33.9 percent (21 of 62) and 2 of 20 from three-point range. Cassidy Wright led UAPB with 12 points.
Sports, Pages 30 on 01/20/2013