Freshman guard Maggie Proffitt made eight of her 14 attempted three-pointers Thursday, the second-most in UCA history, leading the Sugar Bears to a 98-36 victory over Central Baptist College in the Farris Center.
She said the team wanted to play to the best of its ability.
“We just tried to come out and play as hard as we could,” Proffitt said.
The Bears (3-0) shot 55.9 percent from the field and 51.9 percent from beyond the arc, making 14 of 27 attempted three-pointers.
Making 14 three-pointers ties the team record for the second-most three-point filed goals made in a game. The record is 17 three-pointers in a game, which was earned against West Alabama on Dec. 3, 2004.
Senior center Courtney Duever said the team played well.
“Everyone was able to get in to contribute to the win,” Duever said.
Senior guard Micah Rice said she was glad everyone got to play.
“It gives them a chance to get some experience and younger players need that,” she said.
Rice said the team came out flat.
“We knew our opponent didn’t match up with us physically or athletically, but I can’t complain too much because we had a decisive victory,” she said.
Proffitt scored a game-high 30 points and had four rebounds and two assists.
She connected on all three of her three-point attempts in the first half, following with five more in the second half and earning the highest scoring total for a UCA freshman since former Sugar Bear forward Megan Herbert’s 31 points on March, 3, 2010 at Stephen F. Austin.
Proffitt said she wasn’t expecting that type of performcance going into the game.
“I’ve been struggling shooting a little bit these past few games, so I just had to come out with confidence,” she said.
Rice said Proffitt did great.
“Maggie is a great shooter and clearly showed it [Thursday] night. She’s going to help us keep the floor spread and open of lanes to the basket because of her jumper,” she said.
Duever said the team did a great job getting the ball to Maggie, who Duever said was “hot” Thursday.
“We have so many incredible assets to this team that you never know who is going to have an outstanding game,” she said.
Duever contributed 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one block in 13 minutes of playing time.
Freshman guard Kelsey McClure had 11 points, four steals, three assists and one rebound.
Rice added 10 points, five assists, five steals and four rebounds in 16 minutes of playing time.
Junior guard Kelsei Ewings had 10 total points, with three assists and one rebound.
Junior forward Terai Sadler and freshman guard Brianna Mullins both scored nine points and junior forward Tyisha Amos had nine rebounds, along with two points and two steals.
Central Baptist College (2-2) shot 26 percent from the field, connecting on 13 of 50 shots, and shot 20 percent from the 3-point range, connecting on two of 10 shots.
Freshman guard Hana Williams scored 13 points for the Mustangs, bringing in one assist and one rebound.
Senior forward Kayla Gardner had seven points, eight rebounds and one assist.
Freshman guard Rachel Eltherington had five points, one rebound and one steal.
Junior forward Abbi Stearns and senior forward Symone Jackson had seven and five rebounds, respectively, and each had one assist.
Stearns also had a block and Jackson had a steal.
The Sugar Bears recorded 15 steals and forced 23 turnovers, while the Mustangs recorded two steals and forced seven turnovers.
The Sugar Bears outrebounded the Mustangs 45-28.
The Sugar Bears will face University of Louisiana at Monroe at 12 p.m. Saturday at the Farris Center.
