CONWAY, Ark. – The Lipscomb University women's basketball team was outpaced by the University of Central Arkansas, 86-75, in an Atlantic Sun Conference matchup Wednesday evening from the Farris Center. 

Final Score: Central Arkansas 86, Lipscomb 75
Location: Conway, Arkansas (Farris Center)
Records: Lipscomb (9-5, 2-1), Central Arkansas (8-6. 2-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Things started out well for the Bisons in the first quarter. Ahead 12-9 at the media break, the visitors used a 10-4 run to lead 22-13 after one quarter of play. Claira McGowan made it a double-digit affair with her trey late in the stanza. 

The Bisons and the Sugar Bears went back-and-forth in the second quarter, with the home team cutting the deficit to five, 32-27 with 2:57 left in the period. McGowan scored the final five points for Lipscomb as they took a 37-29 lead into the break. 

Unfortunately, Central Arkansas came out firing from the field in the third, as they reclaimed the lead with a Destine Duckworth 3-pointer with 3:19 left. 

UCA outscored Lipscomb 29-19 in the third period and scored seven points off of Lipscomb's seven turnovers as they posted a 58-56 lead going into the final 10 minutes. 

Central Arkansas kept the foot on the gas pedal into the fourth period with a 12-3 run to swell the lead to double figures to put the game out of reach. 

UCA finished the final 20 minutes outscoring Lipscomb 57-38 and shot 65% (19-of-29) from the floor. 

Lipscomb did cut the deficit to two scores on two separate occasions with under two minutes remaining, but it would not be enough. Central Arkansas, after allowing Lipscomb to 51.1% from the field in the first three quarters, held the Bisons to 35% (6-of-17) in the fourth.

KEY STATISTICS
Claira McGowan posted a season-high 25 points thanks to five triples and 10-of-15 from the field. The 10 field goals made matched a career-high, while earning a new personal-best in triples. 

Bella Vinson recorded 15 points and contributed a season-high eight rebounds.

Molly Heard totaled 11 points and five boards, while Ainhoa Cea added eight points, seven assists and three steals. 

HERD NOTES
For Claira McGowan, she secured her first 20-point game of the season and the seventh in her career. Now with 54 games of double figure scoring in her career, the senior leads the team with 11 instances this season.

Additionally, McGowan's 10 field goals made happened for the first time at UCA, and it is the second-such instance of her career. Moreover, she also posted her first-ever game with five or more triples. 

Bella Vinson secured her 10th career double-digit performance this season with her 11 points on Wednesday. 

With her seven dimes on Wednesday, Ainhoa Cea posted her 10th career game of five or more assists, including five this season to lead the team.

UP NEXT
Lipscomb will wrap up the road trip on Saturday at West Georgia.