CONWAY, Ark. (Interstat) — The Central Arkansas Bears used a dominant performance in the paint and a decisive edge in offensive efficiency to pull away from the West Georgia Wolves for an 87-66 victory in an ASUN Conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at the Farris Center.

A crowd of 746 saw the Bears improve to 11-8 overall, while the Wolves fell to 12-6.

The game’s pivotal stretch arrived late in the third quarter and bled into the fourth, transforming a competitive contest into a comfortable Bears lead. West Georgia, fueled by a 23-point third quarter, had trimmed a 13-point halftime deficit to just six points at 61-55 following a pair of free throws by Destiny Jones with 3:41 left in the period. The Wolves’ momentum, however, was abruptly halted.

Central Arkansas responded with an 8-0 run to close the quarter, re-establishing control. Julianna Gibson scored on consecutive layups, the second assisted by Laylah Reese, and after a West Georgia turnover, Gibson converted again inside to push the lead to 59-55. Following another Wolves giveaway, Gibson capped the surge with a layup off an assist from Jenna Cook, sending the Bears into the final period leading 61-55.

The Bears then opened the fourth quarter with a devastating 14-2 run over the first four and a half minutes, effectively sealing the outcome. The sequence highlighted Central Arkansas’s offensive strengths: second-chance points, transition offense, and perimeter shooting. Kamryn Griffin started it with a tip-in, Bree Stephens converted a steal into a fast-break layup, Griffin scored again inside, and Shae Littleford sank a pair of free throws. After a Grace O’Gara free throw for West Georgia, Littleford drilled a three-pointer, and Stephens connected from beyond the arc, extending the Bears’ advantage to 75-58 with 6:57 remaining. West Georgia never threatened again.

Central Arkansas’s victory was built on superior shooting and relentless work on the glass. The Bears shot 51.5 percent from the field, making 35 of 68 attempts, and matched West Georgia’s 11 three-pointers on four fewer attempts. The most glaring disparity came inside, where Central Arkansas outscored West Georgia 46-20, leveraging a 14-5 advantage in offensive rebounds to create numerous high-percentage opportunities.

The Bears also excelled in taking care of the basketball, committing only eight turnovers while forcing 14 from the Wolves. This led to a 17-12 edge in points off turnovers. Central Arkansas’s offensive rating of 132.2 points per 100 possessions starkly contrasted with West Georgia’s rating of 97.0, underscoring the efficiency gap.

West Georgia was led by 17-point performances from both Jasmine Jones and Sydne Tolbert. Jones added a block, while Tolbert, who played 39 minutes, also contributed an assist. Grace O’Gara added 11 points and three assists for the Wolves.

Central Arkansas showcased a balanced and potent attack. Laylah Reese, a 5-foot-8 guard from Cabot, Arkansas, came off the bench to lead all scorers with 15 points, all from beyond the arc, hitting five three-pointers. Starters Shae Littleford and Bree Stephens each scored 17 points. Littleford, also 5-foot-8, added three assists and a block, while Stephens contributed two assists and three steals. Cheyanne Kemp filled the stat sheet with 15 points, three assists, and multiple key rebounds. Paris Santacaterina directed the offense effectively, dishing out four assists.

The Bears set the tone early, leading 20-11 after the first quarter and 37-24 at halftime. West Georgia’s third-quarter surge, led by Tolbert and Jones, briefly made it a game before Central Arkansas’s decisive responses.

West Georgia will look to rebound at home against Queens (N.C.) on Saturday. Central Arkansas continues its homestand, hosting North Alabama on Saturday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Carrollton, Georgia, on Feb. 21.