Sugar Bears
No problem for Sugar Bears in Opening Win Over Hendrix
UCA rains three-pointers on Warriors to walk away with a 104-30 win in official season opener Monday night
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas started the new season with a bang. The Sugar Bears opened the year with a 104-30 win over in-town foe Hendrix.
UCA opened with a win over the Warriors, setting a new program record with 18 made three-pointers on Monday. Six players connected on triples, including a game-high five from Cheyanne Kemp. Jade Upshaw led the team with 18 points, while freshman Jenna Cook dropped 14 in her Sugar Bear debut.
Kinley Fisher opened the scoring with a triple, which spurred a 7-0 run to open the game. The Sugar Bears continued to rain three-pointers as the quarter continued, building a 20-point lead by the end of the frame. Five of the ten field goals in the first quarter were from distance, and eight Sugar Bears scored as the home team leapt out ahead.
Despite how well the offense was playing, it was the defense that reigned supreme in the second quarter. The Sugar Bears held the Warriors without a field goal in the frame, and nearly held the visitors scoreless until a free throw with six seconds left put a point on the board for the Warriors.
Offensively, the Sugar Bears continued to move the ball and find open looks, and eight UCA players scored. At the end of the half, UCA led 50-8, with nine three-pointers already at the break.
The third quarter became a little more competitive, thanks to some three-pointers dropping for the Warriors. Both offenses were efficient in the third, with Hendrix shooting 50 percent and the Sugar Bears shooting 69 percent. Kemp came alive in the frame, connecting on a pair of threes, logging eight of her career-high 17 points.
As the fourth quarter went on, Cook connected on a three-pointer to tie the record, hitting the 17th three of the night. A minute later, Kemp cashed in another three, the 18th of the night and the 100th point of the night. It marked the first time hitting the century mark for the Sugar Bears since 2019, which also came against Hendrix.
Up next is a matchup with Samford on Friday. The Sugar Bears and Bulldogs tip off at 11 a.m., with UCA hosting education day.
Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.
