CONWAY, AR – Diawna Carter-Hartley poured in a career-high 22 points, but the Stetson women's basketball team fell 85-64 to the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears on Saturday afternoon at the Farris Center.
Carter-Hartley added seven rebounds to her impressive performance, leading the Hatters, who now hold a 9-9 overall record and a 3-3 mark in ASUN play. Over her last two starts, she has combined for 34 points and 19 rebounds, including a double-double in the previous game.
The Hatters also saw strong contributions from Cameron Thomas and Quentarra Mitchell, who scored 14 and 10 points, respectively. Thomas notched her 14th game of the season with double-digit points, while every Hatter recorded at least one assist, highlighted by Jorah Eppley's career-high four assists. As a team, Stetson assisted on 61% of its made field goals, with eight players contributing at least one.
Eppley opened the game with a three-pointer, setting the tone for the Hatters' 8-for-25 performance from beyond the arc. Thomas led the way with four treys.
Defensively, Stetson forced 17 turnovers while committing just 10, turning those takeaways into 18 points. Thomas led the defensive effort with three steals, while Mitchell added two.
The Hatters jumped out to an early 17-10 lead in the first quarter behind a 7-0 run capped by a Carter-Hartley basket. They closed the period with a 22-19 advantage, fueled by four three-pointers accounting for more than half their scoring in the frame.
However, Central Arkansas took control in the second quarter, sending Stetson into the halftime break trailing 41-32. The deficit continued to grow in the third quarter, with the Sugar Bears extending their lead to 67-50 heading into the final frame.
Stetson could not mount a comeback in the fourth, ultimately falling by 21 points.
The Hatters will look to bounce back on Thursday, Jan. 23, when they return home to the friendly confines of the Insight Credit Union Arena, where they are 7-1 this season. Tip-off against Eastern Kentucky is set for 7:00 p.m.
