Central Arkansas advances to ASUN semifinals with win over North Alabama

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The University of Central Arkansas women's basketball team rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat North Alabama 67-56 and advance to the ASUN Championship semifinals. The win improves the Sugar Bears to 21-10 and marks the third straight season the program has reached the conference tournament semifinals.

Why it matters

Central Arkansas has emerged as a consistent contender in the ASUN conference, reaching the semifinals for the third consecutive year. The Sugar Bears' ability to overcome a halftime deficit and pull away in the second half showcases their resilience and depth as a team.

The details

Laylah Reese led all scorers with 18 points off the bench, while Jenna Cook added 12. Shae Littleford and Bree Stephens each finished with 11 points. Central Arkansas also received a big boost from its reserves, with the bench outscoring North Alabama 33-3. The Sugar Bears took control after the break, using a 9-2 run early in the third quarter to flip the lead in their favor as the defense held North Alabama to just nine points in the period.

• Central Arkansas scored the first points of the game on a basket by Cheyanne Kemp.
• North Alabama responded with a 13-0 run to build an early lead.
• Central Arkansas trailed by four at halftime.
• The Sugar Bears took control after the break, using a 9-2 run early in the third quarter to flip the lead in their favor.
• Central Arkansas sealed the win by holding North Alabama to just six points over the final seven minutes.

What’s next

Central Arkansas will face Jacksonville in the ASUN semifinal on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. CT, looking to reach its third consecutive ASUN Championship final.