CONWAY, Ark. – The Lipscomb University women's basketball team fell in the semifinals of the 2025 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship to the University of Central Arkansas, 70-65, Tuesday evening inside the Farris Center. 

Final Score: (2) Central Arkansas 70, (3) Lipscomb 65
Location: Conway, Arkansas (Farris Center)
Records: Lipscomb (20-11), Central Arkansas (23-8)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After the Bisons started the game with a 3-pointer by Jalyn Holcomb, the Sugar Bears went on an 11-0 run, including five second chance points, that forced the bench to call a timeout. 

UCA sprinted out to a 20-12 first quarter lead, as they held Lipscomb to under 30% from the field. 

In the second, it was a turn in the right direction for the Bisons. After the Sugar Bears made it a 25-12 lead with 8:58 remaining, the Bisons trimmed it down to five after a Molly Heard layup and a Taylor Bowen jumper. 

Later, after a missed shot by Kinley Fisher, Jalyn Holcomb knocked down a triple to make ti a two-point game, 30-28, at the media timeout. 

From there, the teams went back-and-forth trading shots. Claira McGowan, after picking up a steal on the defensive end, responded with a triple on the other side of the floor to make it a 38-35 deficit.

Unfortunately, Randrea Wright gave Central Arkansas the 40-35 halftime lead. 

Despite still being down, the Bisons responded from the slow start, going 9-of-16 from the field in the second stanza. 

Trailing 47-40 with 6:33 left in the third, a Molly Heard 3-point play sparked an 8-0 run by Lipscomb to reclaim the lead for the first time since early in the first quarter. Bowen's layup at the 4:16 mark made it a 48-47 lead for the Bisons. 

Lipscomb controlled the lead for most of the remainder of the quarter, as Central Arkansas ended the quarter on a 6-0 run to lead 57-53 going into the final 10 minutes. 

In the fourth, despite both teams struggling to clear the bucket, Central Arkansas made it a nine-point game with 4:44 left. The Bisons had opportunities come up short, as the Sugar Bear defense kept the Bisons off the scoreboard for nearly six minutes. 

The Bisons did have two chances left after an Ainhoa Cea steal with 22 seconds left, but UCA iced the game at the free throw line to send them to Fort Myers, Florida to the championship game to take on top-seed Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday.

KEY STATISTICS
Molly Heard led the Bisons with 17 points and added nine rebounds.

Jalyn Holcomb added 15 points with four 3-pointers and two steals, while Ainhoa Cea had five steals and assists each. 

Bella Vinson wrapped up the tournament with her third double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds.