CONWAY, Arkansas — Little Rock and Central Arkansas traded blows for more than 35 minutes during Saturday's non-conference game at the Farris Center, with the Trojans trailing by just a point. But the Sugar Bears closed out the contest with a 12-0 run, giving UCA a 55-42 win in the latest edition of the Governor's I-40 Showdown presented by Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Little Rock (2-6) trailed by three entering the fourth period and managed to stay within a score for most of the final frame despite making just 3-of-16 shots (18.7 percent) during the quarter.
Sug Williams' layup with 4:19 to play pulled the Trojans within 43-42, but Central Arkansas (6-2) made five of its last seven shots down the stretch to stay unbeaten at home (4-0) and keep Little Rock winless (0-4) on the road.
Williams put up a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds to pace Little Rock, which struggled to make shots all afternoon to the tune of 27.9 percent (17-of-61). Jade Upshaw and Kinley Fisher each had 18 for the Sugar Bears, who made jut 5-of-24 shots in the first half (20.8 percent) but hit 13-of-22 (59.1 percent) in the second half.
Faith Lee added 10 points for the Trojans to go with four rebounds and four assists.
Jordan Holman added seven points.
Little Rock held UCA without a field goal for a stretch of 11 minutes in the second and third periods, taking its largest lead (23-17) with just 1:13 to play in the first half. However, the Trojans inability to make shots kept the Sugar Bears close, and the hosts would eventually regain the lead early in the third. UCA took a 36-35 advantage into the fourth frame.
Trailing by five in the fourth,
Jayla Brooks hit a three-pointer and Lee added a layup to tie the contest at 40-apiece, but with UCA leading 43-42 midway through the period, the Trojans missed their last seven shots during the final four minutes, giving UCA its third consecutive victory in the series.
Little Rock concludes its non-conference schedule next Saturday with a trip to Missouri State and a 1 pm tipoff in Springfield, Mo.
