The Central Arkansas women’s basketball team ended its non-conference schedule with a narrow 65-61 loss to Missouri State on Monday afternoon in Springfield, Missouri. The defeat brings the Sugar Bears’ non-conference record to 7-5.
Central Arkansas was active on defense, forcing 21 turnovers and collecting 18 steals. Paris Santacaterina led with six steals, while Shae Littleford contributed five. Cheyanne Kemp scored a team-high 18 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, and Bree Stephens recorded her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
The first quarter saw both teams exchanging leads. Central Arkansas took an early five-point advantage after a three-pointer by Santacaterina, but Missouri State responded with its own run. The period ended tied at 20-20, with Central Arkansas making half of its three-point attempts.
In the second quarter, scoring slowed until Littleford put Central Arkansas ahead by two. Missouri State then went on an extended run to take a ten-point lead. By halftime, the Sugar Bears trailed by seven points.
Scoring for Central Arkansas in the first half was distributed among seven players, with Santacaterina leading at that point.
Stephens helped cut into Missouri State’s lead early in the third quarter. Littleford later narrowed the deficit to two points before Missouri State finished the quarter on a run to extend its advantage back to nine.
Missouri State increased its lead to 13 early in the fourth quarter before Central Arkansas responded with a 10-0 run fueled by steals and Kemp’s scoring. In the closing seconds, Kemp hit a three-pointer and added another basket to bring her team within three points, but Missouri State secured the win from the free-throw line.
Kemp shot 7-of-10 in the final quarter and nearly matched Missouri State’s scoring output for that period.
Central Arkansas will now begin ASUN conference play with road games against Stetson on New Year’s Day and FGCU on January 3. The game at Stetson is scheduled for a 10 a.m. CT tip-off.
