Sugar Bear losses compounded by injury woesQuote:
The injury bug took a couple of bites out of the University of Central Arkansas Sugar Bears last week.
First, guard Westin Taylor, the team’s 3-point shooting specialist, tore an ACL in practice before Saturday’s game at Sam Houston State and is lost for the remainder of the season. In the Sam Houston game, Britney Gowins, who had ignited a run, severely injured an ankle while crashing against a goal support after a steal and a layup. Her status is uncertain.
The Sugar Bears (15-10, 7-5), who have lost two in a row, are in third place in the Southland Conference’s East Division, a game ahead of Northwestern State. One victory in the remaining four games should clinch a spot in the conference’s postseason tournament at Katy, Texas.
“As a young team, we are learning that we aren’t sneaking up on anyone,” coach Matt Daniel said at Monday’s weekly Bearbacker luncheon. “In fact, we are being targeted. Teams are preparing well for us. The quicker we understand that, the better we will be.”
The Sugar Bears play at Nicholls on Wednesday night before returning home for a Saturday game against Southeastern Louisiana.
The UCA women led Nicholls 50-16 at the half in an earlier game in Conway.
“But it won’t be that type of game down there,” Daniel said. “We played about as good a first half of basketball as you can play in that game. The second half was 41-40 and more of a roller-coaster, which is probably what it will be Wednesday.
“Nicholls is next to least in our division but the postseason tournament is still a possibility for them if they can go 3-1, including beating UCA, the rest of the way. So, they are still playing with a purpose. And we are not playing great basketball on either end of the floor right now.”
Twenty-eight turnovers helped doom the Sugar Bears in a 66-54 loss Saturday at Sam Houston State.
“We got behind in the first half, got back in it, took the lead, then missed two defensive assignments that led to breakaway baskets and we never recovered after that,” Daniel said.
: The 2 p.m. game Saturday against Southeastern Louisiana will be the Sugar Bears’ “Pink Zone” game for breast cancer awareness. The UCA home baseball game against Eastern Illinois has been moved to a 4 p.m. start so fans can attend both events.
The lobby of the Farris Center will be open at noon for various health screenings and informational booth by community health agencies.
At halftime, the UCA administration will take on the City of Conway administration in a “shootout” competition.
That is definitely going to take a toll down the stretch. Hopefully someone else on the team will step up and fill their shoes!
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