The UCA women’s basketball team defeated the EKU Colonels on Feb. 27, becoming its seventh back-to-back win on the road. The 63-59 final score was highlighted by senior guard Randrea Wright’s 1,000th career point in the final quarter.
The Sugar Bears knew EKU would put up a fierce fight and wanted to be properly prepared.
UCA women’s basketball coach Tony Kemper said, “We had a good practice week leading into the EKU game. We knew they would be tough to beat at home and focused on interior defense.”
The Sugar Bears (21-7, 15-2 ASUN) and EKU (19-11, 9-8 ASUN) battled on the court in a close game at the Baptist Health Arena that ultimately led to the Sugar Bears’ four-point lead win.
Game leaders included sophomore forward Elizabeth Abiara, who carried her team with 14 points scored and 11 rebounds. Wright followed close behind with 13 points, senior guard Jade Upshaw made 11 points and 10 rebounds while senior guard Leah Mafua scored 10 points.
UCA played hard to create a 5-point lead within the first five minutes of the first quarter.
Within the first 30 seconds, senior guard Kinley Fisher was fouled by EKU fifth year guard Alice Recanati and scored two free throws for her team. Mafua kept the energy alive with a quick three-point jumper assisted by Upshaw. Wright scored two 3-pointers for her team, establishing a larger gap mid-game.
The one-up lead was guaranteed with a strong defense and Fisher’s layup and jumper in the paint with 39 seconds remaining. The Sugar Bears carried that energy to the final buzzer with a close 16-15 score.
Senior forward Cheyenne Banks said her greatest challenge was, “making sure that I consistently did my job well on defense throughout the game. They [EKU] have multiple players that can score the ball from anywhere on the court, so eliminating what I could in the paint was what I strived to do the most to help my team.”
Both teams exchanged baskets at the start of the second quarter. EKU gained a 4-point lead, which was maintained until Upshaw evened the playfield with her 2-point tip shot. Both sides continued the back-and-forth fight.
Within the last 11 seconds, EKU’s layup pushed them over the edge, bringing a 1-point lead into the break.
UCA, motivated to make a comeback, powered through in the third quarter. Abiara destroyed EKU’s lead by crushing two free throws, 2-point tip shots, and a jump shot.
Following Abiara’s lead, Upshaw and Banks fueled the fire by earning 5 points, bringing the energy back to the game.
Mafua’s 3-pointer, assisted by Banks, guaranteed the team’s 4-point lead they carried into the final quarter.
Banks said her proudest moment in the game was when she “passed the ball to score in the paint, made a move with patience, noticed that my teammate Kinley Fisher was cutting towards the basket and got the ball to her for an easy layup. It was at a moment we needed a bucket.”
Banks has averaged 3.3-points, 3.3 rebounds, and has held a 58% FG for the 2024-25 season.
The final quarter continued as a close battle between the two teams.
Each time the Colonels made a basket, UCA answered with the same energy.
Wright earned 7 points, including an impressive 3-pointer in the last three minutes, pushing her team 3 points closer to a win.
Her impressive score also marked her 1,000th point for the Sugar Bears.
UCA didn’t let up, and with momentum maintained, Upshaw’s layup and Fisher’s two free throws got their team the win.
“A road win is always something to be celebrated. We came in and chipped away at the game, making plays and staying calm when EKU made some as well. This win will be a reminder to us in upcoming games that we have done it before and can do it again as long as we play together and stay focused on the task ahead of us,” said Banks.
Kemper said, “They [The Sugar Bears] are hungry to be one of the best teams to ever play here, and if they continue on this course they will be.”
Central Arkansas closed the regular season at North Alabama March 1 with a 66-56 loss.
The Sugar Bears will compete in their first ASUN Championship game at 6:30 p.m. March 8.