The UCA women’s basketball team (4-2) defeated the Little Rock Trojans (1-5) in an I-40 Showdown matchup on Dec. 3, leaving a score of 53-49.
This was the first game to head into overtime for the Bears this season.
The match began with a slower pace until UCA landed the first two points of the day with a layup by sophomore guard Randrea Wright. Wright followed up with a second layup nearly two minutes later.
Little Rock made its first score of the day with a jump shot by graduate forward Nikki Metcalfe with five and a half minutes remaining in the first period.
The Bears widened the gap with a jump shot from senior guard Kayla Mitchell, putting the score at 6-2.
With nearly a minute remaining in the first period, both teams raced to get ahead of each other, UCA ahead by one point.
Junior guard Sha’Nequa Henry pushed the Trojans forward with a jump shot in the paint.
UCA responded 29 seconds later with a two-pointer by freshman guard Parris Atkins, the Bears keeping themselves spread out across the court.
“We most definitely did better on communicating as a team,” Atkins said.
With 10 seconds remaining, Little Rock grabbed the upper hand with a jump shot by Metcalfe, the score now 12-11.
The Trojans continued their lead almost a minute into the second period with a layup by senior forward Angelique Francis.
Although Atkins scored a layup soon after, Henry countered with a jump shot, solidifying Little Rock’s three-point lead.
Following yet another two-pointer by Atkins, the scoreboard stood still until Mitchell gave UCA the lead with a jump shot.
A fan yells in excitement as the UCA women’s basketball team takes the win against the UALR Trojans.
The Bears continued to push past the Trojans with the first three-pointer of the day, shot by sophomore guard Kinley Fisher.
With 52 seconds remaining in the first half, Atkins scored her eighth point of the night.
The second period ended with a layup by Henry as UCA remained in the lead, 24-21.
The Bears opened the third period with a layup by junior forward Kierra Prim, giving UCA a five-point lead.
Around four and a half minutes in, UCA took a ten-point lead with Fisher’s second three-pointer of the game.
The Trojans fired back, closing the gap with a jump shot from junior guard Tia Harvey,
Metcalfe scored two free throws, the Bears returning 12 seconds later with a layup by Atkins.
With 32 seconds left, Metcalfe scored a jump shot, UCA answering with a layup by Wright in the final five seconds of the third quarter, 37-31.
The final period began with a jump shot by freshman forward Faith Lee, putting UCA four points ahead of Little Rock.
Metcalfe made her 16th point of the game with a jump shot, proving to be a leading force for the Trojans.
With a jump shot in the paint by Harvey, both teams tied up once again, 37-37.
UCA quickly took control once again with two free throws by Wright and a jump shot by Atkins.
The Bears stayed in the lead until tying up again with a layup by Lee, the teams entering overtime, 43-43.
Little Rock’s defense pushed back against UCA for over a minute until Mitchell scored a jump shot in the paint, the Trojans coming back with two free throws by Francis.
With only around three minutes remaining, Wright dominated the court, bringing home 8 points for the Bears, the Trojans unable to keep up.
The Bears continued their at-home winning streak, overcoming Little Rock 53-49.
“I thought we played extremely hard today,” UCA Coach Sandra Rushing said. “We took care of the basketball. They fought and I’m very proud of this team.”
The Bears’ next matchup will be against the University of Tulsa on Dec. 11.