Sugar Bears
Sugar Bears knocked out of WNIT, losing to Abilene Christian
UCA ends season with record of 23-10, finishing with 20-plus wins in back-to-back years for the first time since 2016-18
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas ended its season in the second round of the WNIT, falling to Abilene Christian, 75-53, on Monday.
The Sugar Bears end the season with a final record of 23-10, finishing with 20-plus wins in back-to-back years for the first time since 2016-18.
Jade Upshaw led the way with 17 points and nine rebounds, hitting five three-pointers for the third time this season. Kinley Fisher added 12, and Cheyanne Kemp scored 10 off the bench.
Upshaw and the Sugar Bears let it fly from three in the first quarter, scoring points in chunks as the teams battled back and forth.
She hit three triples over the first few minutes, scoring three of the first four to force a timeout from the Wildcats.
Abilene Christian kept it close despite the flurry of treys, and the dichotomy of the first quarter was that UCA scored all 18 of its points from three, while Abilene Christian scored all 14 points in the paint.
The Wildcats opened the second quarter with a 12-0 run, turning a four-point Sugar Bear lead into an eight-point deficit. And after shooting 60 percent in the first quarter, UCA could only muster 25 percent in the second, and by halftime, trailed by 14.
Upshaw, who had five threes by halftime, and led the Sugar Bears with 15 points and six boards. But 16 turnovers allowed the Wildcats to score 22 points, compared to just six points off turnovers for UCA.
As the second half started, turnovers continued to be a problem, as was the three-pointer disappearing. Despite getting open shots, the Sugar Bears just couldn’t break serve. Even though Abilene Christian shot just 35 percent in the frame, the Sugar Bears only shot 28 percent.
As the outcome became decided in the fourth quarter, the deficit eclipsed 20 before the final horn. Kemp scored eight in the second half, hitting a bevy of midrange jumpers.
The Sugar Bears look ahead to next year, bringing back a young core of Eliabeth Abiara and Kemp as juniors and Jenna Cook as a sophomore.
The lone senior on the squad will be Destine Duckworth.
Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.
