Pivotal game meets Wildcats in Conway Saturday

CONWAY, Ark. – The ACU women's basketball team went from not playing a game in 12 days to playing three games in six days all in a week's time. And the busiest week of the year now brings the most important game of the season as the Wildcats (12-7, 5-5 SLC) will travel north to take on Central Arkansas in what could go a long way in determining if the Wildcats will claim a spot in the upcoming Southland Conference Tournament. UCA (8-12, 6-6 SLC) is also fighting for a spot in Katy, and the teams tipoff at 2 p.m. at the Ferris Center on ESPN+ and 102.7 The Bear.

FOLLOW THE GAME

SERIES HISTORY

This will be the 15th meeting between the schools, with ACU holding a slight 8-6 lead. However, the Wildcats are on a roll against the Sugar Bears, winning each of the last six games. The last loss came in the 2018 Southland Conference Tournament quarterfinals in Katy, Texas. ACU returned the favor the following year in the tournament, winning 82-54 in the quarterfinals. ACU won a thriller back on Jan. 23 in Abilene, with Madi Miller hitting an under-handed game-winner off the glass with less than a second left to win, 60-58. It could be the last matchup with UCA; ACU will join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in July this year, while UCA heads to the Atlantic Sun (A-SUN) this summer.

ACU STORYLINES

• SOUTHLAND IMPLICATIONS: ACU is currently in ninth place in the conference standings, with the top eight going to Katy for the upcoming tournament. UCA sits in eighth currently; the standings will be determined by a point system (3 for a win, 1 for a game that does not get rescheduled). Teams must play at least eight games to qualify for the tournament. The Wildcats cap a busy week with an important game.
• LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK: ACU held a 14-point lead with four minutes remaining in the third quarter Monday night at Southeastern Louisiana, but ultimately fell in the game, 51-46. The Wildcats struggled Wednesday night at home against Sam Houston, dropping a 75-55 game. It's the first time ACU has suffered back-to-back losses this season.
• MORGAN HAS CAREER NIGHT: In the very young career of freshman Taylor Morgan, the guard put together her best game in a Wildcat uniform. Her 12 points, four field goals made, four rebounds, and two steals all were career-bests during her inaugural season.
• DEFENSE PLAYING WELL: The Wildcats, who are more known for their offense, have had stretches of outstanding defense this season. ACU is 12-1 when allowing less than 70 points, and before the Sam Houston game allowed just 51, 56, and 65 points in the previous three games.

SCOUTING CENTRAL ARKANSAS (8-12, 6-6 SLC)

• The Sugar Bears have split each their last four games (2-2), and are coming off a loss to SFA on Monday. UCA has six wins in conference and are on pace to play 15 of their 16 league games.
• Lucy Ibeh and Julisa Outlaw have been the consistent scoring threats this season, both averaging over 13 points per game. Ibeh works in the interior, and Outlaw hits from the outside; Outlaw has 17 three-pointers, the second-most on the team.
• UCA has been known for defense for a long time, and that is no different this season. The Sugar Bears are allowing just 63.0 points per game this season.