FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Interstat) — In a cross-state showdown that required an extra period to decide, the Arkansas Razorbacks outlasted the Central Arkansas Bears 89-77 in a women’s NCAA basketball game Monday night at Bud Walton Arena.

The Razorbacks improved to 3-0 on the young season, while the Bears fell to 1-2.

Central Arkansas, the visiting team, started strong, building an early lead and taking a 41-37 advantage into halftime. The Bears maintained their composure through the third quarter, but Arkansas methodically chipped away at the deficit in the fourth. A critical three-pointer from Arkansas’s Emily Robinson with just 12 seconds remaining in regulation tied the game at 74, forcing overtime before an announced crowd of 1,981.

The Razorbacks dominated the extra frame, outscoring the Bears 15-3. Arkansas’s offense found its rhythm while Central Arkansas managed just one field goal in overtime.

Bonnie Deas led all scorers for Arkansas, pouring in 18 points. She was one of five Razorbacks to score in double figures, joined by Harmonie Ware with 14, Maria Anais Rodriguez with 13, Emily Robinson with 12 and Jenna Lawrence with 9. The Razorbacks’ offense was efficient despite a lower field goal percentage than their opponents, bolstered by a significant advantage at the free-throw line where they made 28 of 36 attempts.

Central Arkansas was led by Cheyanne Kemp, who scored 19 points in a game-high 39 minutes of play. Bree Stephens and Shae Littleford each added 16 points, while Jenna Cook contributed 13. The Bears shot 39 percent from the floor but were hampered by 7-of-29 shooting from three-point range and 16 missed free throws.

A key differentiator was Arkansas’s ability to capitalize on possessions. The Razorbacks scored 89 points on 86 possessions for an offensive rating of 103.4, while Central Arkansas posted 77 points on 81 possessions for a rating of 95.5. Both teams struggled to generate assists in a physically contested game, with Arkansas recording 5 and Central Arkansas just 3.

The game was a tale of two halves and overtime, with Central Arkansas controlling the early stages before Arkansas rallied late to secure the victory and remain undefeated.