Orr’s big day keeps Sugar Bears going
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 76, SAM HOUSTON STATE 71
Kamry Orr scored a gamehigh 29 points to lead the eighth-seeded University of Central Arkansas Sugar Bears to a 76-71 victory over the No. 5 seed Sam Houston State Bearkats on Thursday in the first round of the Southland Conference Tournament in Katy, Texas.
Orr also had 13 rebounds, 7 steals and 5 assists. The Sugar Bears (12-17), who snapped a five-game losing streak, will face fourth-seeded Abilene Christian at 11 a.m. today in the second round.
UCA lost both meetings to Abilene Christian in the regular season, 77-70 on Jan. 26 in Abilene, Texas, and 67-65 on March 2 in Conway.
Sam Houston State (16-13) committed 18 turnovers, which led to 25 UCA points.
UCA led 70-63 with 2:03 left after Maddie Goodner hit two free throws. The Bearkats pulled within 72-70 with 52 seconds remaining on Jennifer Oramas’ three-pointer.
But Orr made two free throws with 34 seconds left to help UCA seal the victory.
Hannah Langhi scored 12 points off the bench for UCA. Alana Canady added 10 points. The Sugar Bears shot 44.6 percent (25 of 56) from the floor and made 20 of 32 at the freethrow line.
Sam Houston State led 4740 with 6:15 remaining in the third quarter thanks to a 9-0 run. UCA responded as Orr hit a three-pointer and Canady made two free throws to cut the lead to 53-51 with 1:00 left in the quarter.
Oramas led the Bearkats with 21 points. Lydia Baxter and Amber Leggett each scored 15 points.
Jaylonn Walker added 12 points.
Sam Houston State shot 45.9 percent (28 of 61).
SOUTHLAND MEN
SE LOUISIANA 79, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 65
Southeastern Louisiana led 36-25 at halftime and maintained at least a ninepoint margin in the second half as it knocked off the Univeristy of Central Arkansas in the Southland Conference Tournament at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas.
Southeastern Louisiana advances to play Abilene Christian in a semifinal at 7:30 p.m. today.
Thatch Unruh led the Bears (14-19) with 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor, including 4 of 9 three-pointers. Hayden Koval added 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Deandre Jones scored 11 points.
UCA, which had won four of its past five coming into Thursday’s game, sank 16 of 19 (84.2 percent) from the free-throw line but was 20 of 53 (37.7 percent) from the floor and 9 of 30 (30 percent) on three-point attempts.
Moses Greenwood had 22 points and 9 rebounds for the Lions (17-15), who shot 24 of 50 (48 percent) from the floor and 23 of 27 (85.2 percent) from the free-throw line. Marlain Veal added 15 points, and Von Julien scored 13 points.