The Central Arkansas women’s basketball team is preparing for a rematch against Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) on Thursday at the Farris Center. The game is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Central Arkansas, with a current record of 11-8 overall and 4-3 in the ASUN Conference, recently had a break due to winter weather that led to the rescheduling of their last game against North Alabama. Their most recent contest was a home victory over West Georgia, where the Sugar Bears allowed just 66 points and increased their lead each quarter. Players Shae Littleford, Bree Stephens, Cheyanne Kemp, and Laylah Reese each scored more than 15 points in that game.
The team recorded 46 points in the paint during the win over West Georgia, marking their highest total against a Division I opponent this season. They also achieved a season-high shooting percentage of 51.5 percent from the floor against Division I competition. After nearly 20 games this season, Littleford is fourth in ASUN scoring with an average of 14.4 points per game. Kemp averages 12.5 points per game and is just outside the conference’s top ten scorers. Stephens leads defensively as the only player in the ASUN ranked in both blocks and steals within the top seven and anchors what is currently the conference’s second-best scoring defense.
In their previous meeting earlier this month in Fort Myers, FGCU defeated Central Arkansas 64-51. That matchup marked Central Arkansas’s lowest shooting performance of the season.
FGCU enters Thursday’s game with a record of 9-10 overall and 5-3 in conference play. The Eagles are experiencing some challenges not seen before in their program’s history, including back-to-back coaching changes and recording ten losses for the first time in their 23-year existence. This season also marks only the second time since 2010-11 that they have lost three conference games. Last week, FGCU lost home games to Austin Peay and Lipscomb.
Since conference play began, Nay Staton has led FGCU with an average of 13 points per game and tops several offensive categories for her team.
The upcoming matchup will be available for viewing on ESPN+ and can be followed via live stats online or by tuning into local radio at 91.3 The Bear.
