NASHVILLE – In a contest that saw nine ties and four lead changes and Claira McGowan reaching the 1,000-point plateau, a late layup by the University of Central Arkansas sees Lipscomb University fall 71-69, in an Atlantic Sun Conference contest Thursday evening inside Allen Arena.

Final Score: Central Arkansas 71, Lipscomb 69
Location: Nashville, Tennessee (Allen Arena)
Records: Lipscomb (12-6, 5-2), Central Arkansas (12-6, 6-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Playing each other for the second time in 15 days, the teams traded shots early in the opening quarter, with Bella Vinson's layup in the paint being the first field goal of the game for the Bisons. However, the Sugar Bears used a second-chance opportunity and a turnover to swell the lead to 9-4 early. 

Lipscomb was able to regain control with a quick 11-0 run after back-to-back 3-pointers by Jalyn Holcomb. 

Despite a second chance jumper by Elizabeth Abiara with 39 seconds left, Ainhoa Cea posted a quarter-ending layup to keep the lead in favor of the Bisons, 19-15, through 10 minutes. 

In the second, thanks to five second chance points off of three offensive boards, the Sugar Bears made it a 34-29 lead with 1:13 left in the half. However, after a shot clock violation on UCA's final possession of the second quarter with 13 seconds left, Holcomb ran down the floor for the quick jumper to cut the deficit to 34-32 at the break. 

After shooting 36% in the second quarter, the Bisons came out with the hot hand out of the locker room, going on a 6-1 run to reclaim the advantage, 38-35. Unfortunately, UCA came back strong, as they went on a 6-0 run to lead 51-42 late in the frame. 

Lipscomb did cut it back to a six-point deficit on a Vinson triple to make it 51-45 through 30 minutes. 

The Bisons were able to even the contest thanks to three straight free throws by Claira McGowan to even the game at 58. However, Jade Upshaw pushed the lead back to UCA on its next possession with a 3-pointer. 

Having to play catch-up from there, Lipscomb used a 6-0 run in about a 90-second span to even the score again at 69 thanks to free throws by Vinson. The possession got back into Lipscomb's favor after a Molly Heard block.

With under two seconds remaining, the Sugar Bears used a layup by Bree Stephens to secure the win and the series sweep for the visitors. 

The story of the game was the second-chance opportunities for Central Arkansas, who scored 17 points off of 14 offensive boards. In the first half, the Sugar Bears picked up 11 of their 34 points off such events. 

KEY STATISTICS
Bella Vinson posted a game-high 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting and added eight rebounds. 

Jalyn Holcomb added 15 more for the Bisons on three triples and added three dimes. 

Claira McGowan and Molly Heard each added nine. 

HERD NOTES
The series history continues to be on par for both teams, as this is the eighth time in previous nine meetings that the game has come down to single digits. However, this is the first time that a game has been decided by one possession.

Claira McGowan, with her three free throws with less than eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, joined the 1,000-point club. She now has 963 in her career at Lipscomb, and if you include the 40 she scored in her first year at Murray State, she now has 1,003 in her career. 

McGowan is 37 points away from becoming the 11th Bison in the Division I era to achieve 1,000 points in a Lipscomb uniform. 

With three more triples, Jalyn Holcomb now has 203 in her career and moves to second all-time in program history in 3-pointers. She'll need five to surpass Anna Bowers, who knocked down 207 from 2009-12. 

UP NEXT
The weekend home stand continues on Saturday, when Lipscomb welcomes North Alabama for a Saturday afternoon showdown. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside Allen Arena.