MACON, Ga. -- Two Eastern Kentucky free throws and a turnover in the final seconds were enough to do in Central Arkansas on Friday as the Sugar Bears fell 56-55 to the Colonels in the Preseason WNIT at Mercer University.
The Sugar Bears (0-2) forced three turnovers over the next minute to keep Eastern Kentucky (1-1) at bay after taking a 55-54 lead with 1:38 to play on a basket from senior forward Terai Sadler. The Colonels forced a turnover of their own, a steal by Alexus Cooper, with less than 30 seconds to play, The Colonels worked the ball to Michaela Hunter, who was fouled with 10 seconds left.
Hunter hit both free throws to give Eastern Kentucky the lead before Cooper came up with another steal to clinch the victory.
The Sugar Bears led by 10 late in the first half, but the Colonels closed with a 12-2 run over the last 4:25 to tie the game 29-29 at halftime.
Eastern Kentucky continued the run in the second half, scoring the first six points to assume a lead that it would hold for the next 15 minutes before the Sugar Bears eventually drew even at 51-51 with 4:35 left on a basket from Sadler. The teams traded leads the rest of the way, with the margin within two throughout the final five minutes.
Sophomore guard Brianna Mullins, who was 4 of 10 from the three-point line, scored a game-high 21 points and tied a career high with eight rebounds for UCA. Sophomore guard Maggie Proffitt, who had 22 points in last week's season opener at Western Kentucky, followed with 16 on Friday. Sadler had 10 points and a career-best 8 rebounds, and freshman Olivia McWilliams had a team-high 4 assists to go with 4 rebounds and 2 steals in 26 minutes before suffering a knee injury in the final minute.
The Sugar Bears will conclude their Preseason WNIT swing at 3 p.m. Central today when they face Jackson State, which lost 80-48 to host Mercer on Friday.
SWAC MEN
VALPARAISO 59, ARK.-PINE BLUFF 46
Alec Peters scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds as Valparaiso defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday in the Central Michigan Tournament at McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Vashil Fernandez had 11 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks while Keith Carter chipped in 7 points and 7 assists. Valparaiso shot 46.9 percent from the field and outrebounded the Golden Lions 37-20.
Valparaiso (3-1) had a four-point lead midway through the first half, but Peters had three layups, a three-pointer and a jumper to help move out to a 35-26 lead at halftime. A quick run to open the second half put Valparaiso up 46-26 after Tevonn Walker's three-pointer.
The Golden Lions were held to 17-of-45 shooting. Marcel Mosley had 10 points for Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-3).
UAPB will face tournament host Central Michigan at 12:30 p.m. Central on Sunday.
Sports on 11/22/2014