CONWAY, ARK. – Central Arkansas junior forward Caronica Randle scored 32 points, hitting 8-of-8 from the free throw line, to lead the Sugar Bears to an 80-74 victory over Harding on Monday at the Farris Center.

 

Central Arkansas (16-8, 8-5 Gulf South Conference) snapped a three-game conference losing streak and remained in third place in the GSC West Division. The top five teams in each division make the GSC Tournament following the regular season.

 

Harding (10-13, 2-10) had its two-game winning streak stopped. The Lady Bisons fell for the eighth straight time in Conway and the sixth overall to the Sugar Bears. The two teams will not meet again in the near future. Central Arkansas is moving to the NCAA I Southland Conference for the 2006-07 season.

 

The Lady Bisons had four players with 10 or more points. Junior Jasmine McClindon led Harding with 22 points. It was her fifth straight game with 20 points or more. GSC Freshman of the Year candidate Catherine McMenamy had 17 points, Jacque Fredendall had 12 points and seven rebounds, and Chelsea Simpson added 10.

 

Harding shot only 35% in the first half, but the teams were tied at 35 at the break. The Sugar Bears took advantage of 10 Lady Bison turnovers in the second half to take the lead early and led much of the period.

 

The Lady Bisons return to the Rhodes Field House on Thursday to meet Christian Brothers at 6 p.m.