Sugar Bears
Wright, Fisher, Upshaw Garner ASUN Honors for UCA as Season Near
With a lot of returning players, expectations high with Sugar Bears getting preseason honors from ASUN conference
CONWAY, Ark. — With basketball season just around the corner, the Atlantic Sun Conference has released its Preseason All-ASUN Team, and the Sugar Bears were justly rewarded after the season they had last year.
Central Arkansas claimed three of the team’s spots, while grabbing a superlative as well.
The three Sugar Bears that were named to the team were Randrea Wright, Kinley Fisher and Jade Upshaw. Bree Stephens earned one of the superlative awards, being named Preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
“I’m happy for our team that we had such a deep group of preseason award recipients,” UCA coach Tony Kemper said. “These student athletes and more are deserving of accolades based on their ability and hard work. They look forward to representing Central Arkansas on the court this season.
“Randrea, Kinley and Jade were productive for us last year. They adjusted quickly to a new system and I think they can continue to build on what they accomplished last season. We will rely on them to provide scoring punch and handle most of the ball handling responsibilities, things that they are more than capable of doing.”
Indeed, the trio was responsible for a lot for last season’s team, scoring almost 53 percent of the points, with each of the three averaging double-figures last year. Wright, who averaged 10.5 points per game, shot 49 percent from two-point range, an impressive number for a guard.
She also finished second on the team with 77 assists, providing not just for herself, but also her teammates. Wright consistently showed the ability to impact the game in a number of ways, at various points in the year posting game-highs of 17 points, seven boards, eight assists and five steals.
Fisher blossomed into the ASUN Sixth Player of the Year last season, being handed the keys to the offense on a number of occasions throughout the year. Her ability as a three-point shooter opened up driving lanes for her, and she parlayed it into leading the team with 90 made free throws.
She averaged 11.9 points per game, and finished second on the team with 47 three-pointers. Fisher had four games last year scoring 20-plus, peaking at 24 against North Alabama.
Upshaw, who transferred in from Arkansas State, immediately found a place in Central Arkansas that allowed her to be the creative, aggressive scorer she is. She turned that into leading the Sugar Bears in scoring at 12.2 points per game, field goals with 147, and three-pointers with 59.
Upshaw had the ability to go off at any point, while also staying efficient; seven of her ten games scoring 15-plus were done so on 50 percent shooting or better, and all but one saw her connect on multiple three-pointers. Upshaw was also active on the boards, and her ability to come down with a rebound and take it coast to coast made the Sugar Bears’ transition offense tough to counter.
Stephens claimed the Co-Defensive Player of the Year after leading a Sugar Bear defense that ranked third in the ASUN, allowing 59 points per game. The Aussie was a big reason for that, ranking second in the league in blocked shots and 11th in total steals.
She was one of seven players in Division I to tally at least 45 blocks and 45 steals, and her ability to shut down opposing players was unparalleled in the ASUN.
“We are so happy for Bree, she was an integral part of our team last year, but it felt like we were probably the only ones who really understood her versatility and importance to our team’s success. She draws difficult defensive assignments and impacts the game in a positive way with her length and intelligence. I think she can be even more effective in 2024-25.”
In addition to the individual accolades, the Sugar Bears were also predicted, by both coaches and media polls, to finish second in the ASUN. Last season, UCA won 21 games, 11 of which came in the ASUN, and reached the ASUN Championship game, earning the right to host a WNIT game.
The Sugar Bears return nearly 96 percent of last year’s minutes played, bringing back continuity at every position on the floor. UCA tips off the season on Nov. 4, taking on Hendrix at the Farris Center.
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.
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Central Arkansas couldn’t overcome Florida Gulf Coast and see an ASUN Championship run slip away in the Finals for the second-straight year.
The Sugar Bears close the ASUN Championship 23-9 after the loss to the Eagles. Leah Mafua led the team with 17 points, Jade Upshaw had 15, and Cheyanne Kemp added ten off the bench.
Cheyenne Banks had a game-best nine rebounds, her second-most in a game this season. UCA limited the Eagles to just six three-pointers, their fifth-fewest this season, and outrebounded the Eagles in the loss. Upshaw and Mafua were named to the ASUN All-Tournament Team following the decision.
“I’m really proud of them, I think what we were trying to get done, especially on the defensive end, we did well. We had some moments in the first half where we got to the spots we wanted, they just didn’t go in the basket,” Sugar Bears coach Tony Kemper said after the game. “But we turned it over too much, and that’s a really good team, they’re really tough to play in here.”
The opening quarter was back and forth, with the Sugar Bears taking an early 6-3 lead after the first few possessions. With the UCA defense locking down the paint, FGCU was forced to hoist threes, but only managed 1-for-9 in the first frame.
The game was tied at 8-8 and 10-10, and the Sugar Bears kept battling, but a 6-2 burst at the end of the first had the Eagles up four.
Both offenses started slowly to open the second, with zero points over the first three minutes before FGCU hit its second three of the day.
As the Eagles started to inch the lead further, Mafua and the Sugar Bears were doing everything they could to stay in it. The New Zealander scored seven points in the second quarter, but turnovers and free throws allowed the Eagles to go into the break up 14 after a Bree Stephens steal and score right before halftime.
Mafua had 12 at the midway point, scoring half of the Sugar Bears’ points.
UCA started finding its footing midway through the third quarter. Down as many as 21, the Sugar Bears put together an 8-0 run to cut into the lead, and unsurprisingly, free throws for the home team halted the momentum.
The Sugar Bears scored again to keep the deficit at 13, but Gulf Coast stretched it back to 17 by the end of the third.
The Sugar Bears continued to fight in the fourth, but down to their last stand and starting to get shorthanded, the Sugar Bears just didn’t have enough in the tank.
Though the defense was able to hold FGCU to just 11 points, the offense wasn’t able to find the run, managing the same 11 points as FGCU. Upshaw tallied 11 points in the second half, along with Kemp’s eight.
“We’ve got a lot of really good players, and I appreciate them all. I thought Leah was aggressive early and throughout. Jade got going in the second half, what a player, what a career at UCA,” Kemper added. “All of these seniors, great careers here at UCA.
“This senior class is really special, and for them to come to UCA when it was nothing, and build it to a team that played in this game twice, there’s only one thing that would have made it better, and that would have been winning today.””
UCA will have its pick of postseasons outside the NCAA Tournament, with an announcement to be made in the coming days.
Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.
Sugar Bears
Sugar Bears face familiar foe going for first ASU Title
Despite scoring most points ever against Eagles in regular season, UCA still lost and chance at redemption includes trophy
CONWAY, Ark. — It’s Championship time for Central Arkansas heading to Fort Myers, Fla., for a second-straight appearance in the ASUN Championship Final.
Taking on the powerhouse of the league, the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, the Sugar Bears look for their first ASUN Title at 1 p.m.
The Sugar Bears (23-8, 15-3 ASUN) take the court after downing Lipscomb 70-65 in the semifinal round.
Jade Upshaw poured in 25 points, her second time reaching the 25-point mark against the Bisons, as a big first quarter for the home team carried the day. UCA moved to 4-0 in home ASUN tournament games, earning a second ASUN Championship appearance in as many years.
UCA plays FGCU for the fourth time in two seasons, struggling to get a result against the ASUN regular season champions.
This last time, at home during the regular season, the Sugar Bears tallied their most points against the Eagles in the series, scoring 71 points. Leah Mafua led the team with 17 points, Randrea Wright added 13, and Kinley Fisher contributed 12.
It marked the first time that UCA has had three double-digit scorers against the Eagles.
FGCU (29-3, 18-0 ASUN) punched its ticket to the Final after defeating EKU 63-47.
The Eagles trailed 20-7 after the first inning, but regrouped to tie the game by half, and took over from there.
Emani Jefferson, the ASUN Player of the Year, scored 22 points in the win, and Lauryn Taylor added 15 points and 13 rebounds.
The Eagles have been in the ASUN Championship Final every season since they’ve been Division I eligible.
FGCU has claimed every championship, except for two, losing in the Finals in 2013 and 2016. UCA has two conference titles in program history, winning Southland Championships in 2016 and 2017. The Sugar Bears are making their fifth appearance in a conference championship game.
Tip-off for an ASUN title and a spot in the Big Dance is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+, with live stats available online. Fans can also follow the action on The Bear 91.3, with Steve Owens on the call.
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