JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Central Arkansas ladies’s basketball crew competed in the ASUN Semifinals for the third straight 12 months however fell to the No. 2 seed Jacksonville Dolphins Saturday afternoon.
The Sugar Bears depart the ASUN Tournament with a 21–11 report after a battle with Jacksonville University. Shae Littleford led the crew with 19 factors, adopted by (*2*) with 11, whereas Bree Stephens and Jenna Cook every added 9 factors.
Jacksonville led 21–14 on the finish of the primary quarter. Kemp lower into the Dolphins’ lead early in the second quarter with a three-pointer off an help by Laylah Reese, however turnovers plagued the Sugar Bears, conserving them from gaining a foothold in the primary half. The Sugar Bears continued to battle in a back-and-forth stretch, however Jacksonville pushed its benefit to a game-high 13 halfway by way of the second and carried that momentum into halftime with a 35–25 lead.
Central Arkansas responded early in the third quarter, chopping Jacksonville’s lead throughout a fast scoring run. Kemp began the run with a layup earlier than developing with a steal that led to a fastbreak rating, drawing the foul and finishing the three-point play. The momentum continued on the defensive finish as Cook pressured a steal that arrange Littleford for an additional fastbreak layup to hold the Sugar Bears inside attain, however the deficit after three quarters was nonetheless six.
After the Sugar Bears trimmed Jacksonville’s lead to 4 with 6:30 left in the fourth, the Dolphins responded to regain management and push the lead again out to 9. Jacksonville capitalized on transition alternatives and continued strain defensively, conserving the Sugar Bears from discovering an offensive rhythm because the clock ticked away. Despite getting shut all through the fourth, Central Arkansas simply could not discover a late run to shut the hole.
“This team is a family, and families stick together,” senior Bree Stephens stated following the sport. Stephens has been part of all three groups which have reached at the very least the ASUN Championship Semifinal spherical.
A two-time ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, Stephens reached 50 blocks this season throughout the semifinal recreation in opposition to the Dolphins. Against Jacksonville final season, Stephens set the Sugar Bears’ Division I profession block report along with her 107th block, and now enters postseason play with 175 profession rejections.
Central Arkansas closes the season with its third consecutive 21-win season and can now await potential postseason invites, together with a attainable third-straight WNIT look.