15 Jan 2025 Sugar Bears face two Sunshine State foes

Posted at 8:18 PMh in Sports by

CONWAY — The Central Arkansas women’s basketball team returns to the Farris Center for two games this week, facing off with North Florida tonight at 6:30 p.m., before battling Stetson on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Photo by jdizonmedia.

The Sugar Bears are 9-6 midway through January, with a 3-1 record in ASUN games. Last week, Central Arkansas picked up a pair of wins, beating Lipscomb at home before earning a win in a physical game at Queens. In Charlotte, the Sugar Bears needed every one of their 24 free throws, including 15 in the fourth quarter. Kinley Fisher had a game-high 18 points, hitting a career-high 12 from the free throw line to help the Sugar Bears claim their third ASUN win of the season.

One of the biggest story lines through the first four conference games has been the defensive efforts of Bree Stephens. Selected as the ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, she has more than backed it up to start the conference portion of the schedule. She’s had at least four blocks in every game, totaling 22 through the first two weekends of play. Her average of 5.5 blocks per game is more than any team in the ASUN, with second-place EKU averaging 4.5 blocks per contest. Overall, her season average of 2.8 blocks per game ranks fifth in Division I, and she leads the ASUN in total blocks by 18.

Facing two Florida schools for the first time this season, the Sugar Bears have claimed all three matchups with North Florida, while conversely, have yet to get over the hump against Stetson. Last year, Jade Upshaw’s 16 points led Central Arkansas to a home win over the Ospreys, as North Florida was held to just 44 points on 35 percent shooting. The Sugar Bears forced 15 turnovers and held the Ospreys to just 5-for-21 from three. Against Stetson, last season’s battle came down to the final possession, where Central Arkansas couldn’t convert to steal one on the road.

North Florida (4-13, 0-4 ASUN) has yet to win an ASUN game, but has played some of the premier teams in the league to start the year. Last time out, it was an 80-63 loss to Stetson that dropped the Ospreys to 0-4 in conference play. North Florida had four in double-figures, but couldn’t slow down the Hatters’ offense enough to get back into the game after a slow first quarter.

Jasmine Spencer leads the team in scoring at 10.4, the only Osprey to average double-figures this season. She ranks second on the team in both field goals (58) and three-pointers (32) and is third in free throws (28). North Florida does a decent job running teams off the three-point line, allowing just 6.5 makes per contest, compared to the 7.4 that the Osprey offense produces. But turning it over 20.2 times per game gives their opponents plenty of extra possessions to make up for the lack of outside success.

Saturday, the Sugar Bears will face a Stetson team that is 9-7 overall and 3-1 in ASUN games. In the game against North Florida, Cameron Thomas scored a game-best 17 points, and continues to be the top scorer in the ASUN this season. She is one of three players in the conference averaging 15 points per game, and her 17.4 tops the list. The Hatters also boast one of the better defenders in the league, as Quentarra Mitchell is one of three players in the ASUN to rank in the top-10 of both blocks and steals per game, along with Leah Mafua.

Tip-offs this week are Thursday at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday at 1 p.m. Both games will be on ESPN+ and have live stats online. Fans will also be able to keep up with both games at 91.3 The Bear.