Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

The Bearkats are currently on a three-game losing streak after the 71-51 loss to Central Arkansas earlier today in Conway, Arkansas.

The loss dropped the Bearkats to 13-12 for the year and 9-4 in Southland play.

Central Arkansas, one of the preseason league favorites but were in a tailspin the past two weeks, ended a five-game losing streak.

The Bears now stand 14-11 for the year and 7-7 in the Southland.

Courtney Duever led Central Arkansas with 23 points while Megan Herbert added 19.

Nyha Carter led Sam Houston with 14 points. Chanice Smith and Britni Martin added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Sam Houston held an early 9-6 lead after a Britni Martin three-pointer four minutes into the game.

With the contest tied 10-10 at 14:56, the Bears went on a 15-2 run to go up 25-12 on a Britney Gowan basket with 10:18 left in the half.

After a 9-2 run, the Bearkats cut the margin back to six at 27-21 on another Martin three-pointer at 5:12.

But Central Arkansas out-scored the Kats 10-2 to go into the locker room up 37-23 at intermission.

UCA out-shot the Bearkats 42.4 percent to 32.1 from the field as Sam Houston also went 1-of-9 from the free throw line in the first 20 minutes.

Martin opened the second half with her third three-point basket to cut the margin to 37-26, but that was as close as Sam Houston would come the rest of the day.

Central Arkansas went on a 21-9 run to lead at 58-35, with 9:07 to play.

The Bears led by as many as 25 points late in the final three minutes.

UCA out-scored SHSU 34-28 in the second period.

Sam Houston ended the game shooting 35.1 percent from the field (20-of-57) and 4-of-15 (26.7 percent) from the foul line.

The Bearkats return to Huntsville to take on Stephen F. Austin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.