CENTRAL ARKANSAS 54, ABILENE CHRISTIAN 41

Taylor Baudoin scored 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor and grabbed 11 rebounds Friday to lead the University of Central Arkansas over Abilene Christian in the second round of the Southland Conference Tournament at the Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy, Texas.

UCA (21-9) jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first three minutes of the game, but Abilene Christian (16-14) used a 5-0 run over the next two minutes to trim the lead to 10-8. The Sugar Bears closed the quarter on a 7-2 run to take a 17-10 lead.

Baudoin took over in the second quarter, scoring 11 of her 13 first-half points. That helped Central Arkansas build a 12-point lead midway through the quarter, and the Sugar Bears held a 28-19 halftime lead.

UCA maintained control in the second half. Abilene Christian cut the lead to five at 31-26 after a three-pointer from Breanna Wright with 6:44 left in the third quarter, but the Wildcats could get no closer.

Kierra Jordan had 14 points and 7

rebounds for UCA, which shot 41.3 percent (19 of 46) from the floor and hit 12 of 18 free throws. Wright led the way for Abilene Christian with 19 points, but she also had 7 of the Wildcats’ 20 turnovers. Sara Williamson added 13 points and 8 rebounds for Abilene Christian, which shot 32.6 percent (14 of 43) from the floor and hit 10 of 14 free throws.

Central Arkansas advances to play Stephen F. Austin in today’s second semifinal game at 3:30 p.m.