DELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — Central Arkansas opened its ASUN Conference schedule with a decisive 65-43 victory over Stetson on Thursday at Edmunds Center. The Bears used a strong second quarter to pull away and never looked back. Leading by just two after the first period, Central Arkansas outscored the Hatters 22-14 in the second to take a double-digit halftime lead. The Bears’ defense then stifled Stetson in the third quarter, holding the home team to just six points to secure the conference win. Shae Littleford led Central Arkansas with 15 points. Paris Santacaterina added 13. For Stetson, Cameron Thomas scored a team-high 14 points. Central Arkansas improved to 8-5 overall, while Stetson fell to 7-5. An announced crowd of 280 attended.

Preview: Central Arkansas Bears at Stetson Hatters DELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — Two teams looking to establish early momentum in ASUN Conference play will meet Thursday when the Central Arkansas Bears visit the Stetson Hatters in a New Year’s Day women’s basketball matchup at Edmunds Center. Both teams enter with identical 7-5 overall records, though Stetson holds a slight edge at 7-4. Each is seeking to rebound from a decisive road loss to a Power Five opponent in its final non-conference tune-up. Central Arkansas fell 65-61 at Missouri State on Dec. 22, despite a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds from forward Bree Stephens. The Bears have dropped three of their last four, with the lone win an 82-75 victory at Grambling on Dec. 13. Stephens has been a consistent force, averaging 11.3 points and 7.8 rebounds over her last four contests. Stetson is coming off a 77-45 loss at Miami (Fla.) on Sunday. The Hatters’ offense has shown high-ceiling potential, led by guard Cameron Thomas. Thomas exploded for 35 points in a win at UCF on Dec. 3 and followed with a 32-point performance against Stonehill on Dec. 20. She scored 17 against the Hurricanes and will be the focal point of the Central Arkansas defense. The Bears have relied on a balanced attack. In the loss to Missouri State, Cheyanne Kemp led all scorers with 18 points, while Shae Littleford added nine. Central Arkansas has proven capable of strong defensive performances, holding four opponents under 45 points this season. Stetson has shown resilience, with notable road wins at UCF and Saint Louis. Their conference schedule intensifies after this opener, with a trip to Lipscomb looming next week. Thursday’s contest marks the beginning of a home-and-home series between the programs this season, with the rematch scheduled for Jan. 31 in Conway, Arkansas. Tip-off is set for Thursday afternoon. The game will be a key early indicator in the ASUN standings as both teams aim to start 2026 with a victory.