Central Arkansas Needs Overtime to Top Defending Champion Lamar, 68-60
By Brandon C. Williams
Southland.org
KATY, Texas - As the horn sounded to close regulation, Central Arkansas coach Matt Daniel brought his team into the huddle and asked one simple question: "Are we having fun yet?"
Five minutes of basketball later, the Sugar Bears answered Daniel with an emphatic yes.
An 11-0 run to open overtime busted the game wide open and allowed third-seed Central Arkansas to stun defending Southland Conference tournament champion Lamar in a 68-60 win that propelled the Sugar Bears to Friday's championship game for the first time.
"We're on to the next one," said Central Arkansas (21-10) guard Destinee Rogers, who scored 13 points on an afternoon where Southland Conference Player of the Year Megan Herbert was limited to just three points and four rebounds.
Rogers and her teammates picked up the slack in a rapid flurry that finally subdued the Lady Cardinals (25-7), which had used a 12-1 run to come back from a 50-40 deficit at the 5:55 mark of the second half.
Lamar took a 52-51 lead when Jenna Plumley knocked down a 3-pointer with 1:36 remaining, but the Sugar Bears managed to force the extra session when Nakeia Guiden hit the second of two free throws with 18 seconds left.
Plumley (14 points) attempted to win the game for the Lady Cardinals in the closing seconds of regulation, but was stopped under the basket by Herbert.
"I wanted to get to the line, but I just didn't get enough space," said Plumley.
The Sugar Bears took the lead for good when Guiden turned a free throw and a layup into a 55-52 margin at the 3:34 mark of overtime, but it was a 3-point play from Micah Rice with 2:37 remaining that increased Central Arkansas' lead to 59-52.
By the time Ang Green finally got the Lady Cardinals on the scoreboard with 1:03 left, the outcome was no longer in doubt for a Sugar Bears team that had taken a pair of regular season losses against Lamar.
"We executed down to the final part of the game," said Lamar coach Larry Tidwell, "but you have to give Central Arkansas credit."
Tidwell's concerns about the Lady Cardinals' rebounding struggles proved prophetic, as the Sugar Bears finished with a 43-35 edge on the glass while holding Lamar to a season-low 22 first half points. The duo of Plumley and Kalis Loyd were never able to get into gear, finishing a combined 10 of 35 from the field.
"They just weren't falling down for us," said Plumley, whose career will likely continue in either the Women's Invitational Tournament or the Women's Basketball Invitational.
Despite consecutive sluggish efforts from their best player, the Sugar Bears are on the verge of the school's first trip to the NCAA Tournament.
"For us to be able to do that without her is an accomplishment to our program," said Daniel.
Central Arkansas Quotes
Coach Matt Daniel
Opening Statement: "First of all, Lamar's program has become a conference powerhouse with recognition all over the country for the job that coach Tidwell does recruiting, getting his players motivated to play and being ambassadors for the Southland Conference. My hat is certainly off to them. My hat is also off to our team. We have had a high level of consistency at a pretty even keel and not panicking in playing two games of bad basketball. But it doesn't really matter as long as you are at a higher level of consistency than your opponent. The only thing I talked to them about before the game, because there was no scouting report on the board, was to enjoy it. And I'm not very good at this as they know at enjoying the moment. But it's very important to stop and smell the roses. When we went into overtime I asked them if we were having fun yet. So today I am thankful to our program and our student-athletes to allow me to stop and smell the roses."
Concern on being down early: "Yes there was a concern. I was concerned when we were up by 10. I'm always concerned. I wish I could relax more but I'm wired pretty tight. But in the locker room Destinee told me we got each other's back and that is mine included. No matter the result today or two days ago or tomorrow, I'm more concerned about the bigger things."
Destinee Rogers
On first conference tournament championship appearance: "Right now we're just excited we got this win and we're moving on to the next game. We just need to stay focused and have each other's back, continue to play hard and I'll think we'll be fine."
Lamar Quotes
Coach Larry Tidwell
Opening Statement: "I would first like to congratulate Central Arkansas. They executed and did what they had to do. You have to give them credit, they did a good job. But we weren't ready for this season to be over. And I don't think it's over yet. I think we'll be invited to play in a postseason tournament somewhere. But I just really admire our players for giving everything we had, especially these two sitting with me - Jenna Plumley and Trashanna Smith - they gave everything they had, and I can't say enough about what they've done for our program. It's sad that we're out, but we will wait and see what happens after the tournament to see where we might be playing later on."
On being out rebounded: "The amazing thing is we were able to contain Megan Herbert, the conference player of the year, but didn't take care of everyone else and we let a lot of easy ones get away from us. It was a physical game, I thought we did a good job overall, but it is what it is. We had a chance and sometimes you close it but this time we just didn't'."
Jenna Plumley
On drive at end of regulation: "In my head I was thinking if I drove to the basket I could get to the foul line. I've been good at the foul line all year, but we just didn't clear out enough space. They came out and were doubling up a little bit and were switching off. My shot was there all night but I just wasn't knocking down the three's, so I chose to drive and try to draw the foul. But we just weren't able to get it done."