Box Score


 
CONWAY, Ark. – Southeastern Louisiana sophomore forward Aja Gibson scored 16 points to lead three Lady Lions in double figures, but Megan Herbert and Central Arkansas pulled away in the second half for a 71-54 victory in Southland Conference women's basketball action Wednesday night at the Farris Center.
 
Herbert scored 20 of her game-high 26 points in the second half, as UCA (15-4, 5-1 Southland) shot 66.7 percent (16-for-24) from the floor after the break to overcome a two-point Southeastern halftime lead. The Lady Lions (5-13, 0-5 Southland) dropped their fifth straight, as the Sugar Bears outscored the Lady Lions, 49-30, after the break.
 
Gibson was joined in double figures by senior guard Jessica Sommers and junior forward Brandi Simmons with 10 points apiece. Senior guard Kelli Jenkins dished out a game-high seven assists for the Lady Lions. Simmons and Gibson led the Lady Lions with seven and six rebounds, respectively.
 
Herbert hit 10-for-13 for the floor, while junior guard Micah Rice added 12 points and senior guard Nakeia Guiden knocked in 11 points. Herbert grabbed a game-high nine rebounds for the Sugar Bears, while Guiden was credited with a team-high four assists.
 
Southeastern led by two at the half and the lead changed hands several times in the opening minutes of the second half. A jumper by freshman forward Hillary Shaffer cut the lead to 33-31 with 15:49 remaining in the game.
 
UCA answered with a 6-0 run over the next three minutes, as a three-point play by Herbert put the Sugar Bears up, 39-31, with 12:38 remaining. Southeastern freshman guard Symone Miller hit a three on the ensuing possession and pulled the Lady Lions within five, however, that was as close as Southeastern would get.
 
The Lady Lions kept within striking distance in the final minutes, but could not come up with the stops on the defensive end to serious threaten UCA down the stretch.
 
UCA took a 16-9 lead to start the game, but Southeastern answered with a 15-4 run to take its largest lead of the first half at 24-20. Behind eight points from Sommers, Southeastern went into the break with a 24-22 advantage.
 
The first half featured four ties and six lead changes, as both team shot 30.8 percent (8-for-26) from the floor. Rice led the Sugar Bears with nine points in the opening 20 minutes.
 
On Saturday, the Lady Lions (5-12, 0-4 Southland) will host Northwestern State at 2 p.m. for the Play4Kay game dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness. Breast cancer survivors in attendance will be honored by Southeastern at halftime. In addition, Pink Links will be sold to display throughout the arena with proceeds benefitting the fight against breast cancer.
 
Sommers will be Saturday's Spotlight Player of the Game and the first 100 fans will receive a trading card featuring the San Antonio, Texas native, courtesy of the Southeastern PRIDE. The game will be broadcast on the Internet only at www.LionSports.net.