LAKE CHARLES, La. — In typical Sugar Bear fashion, Central Arkansas once again put together a big second half and overcame a double-digit deficit for another comeback victory – defeating McNeese State 64-53 at Burton Coliseum on Saturday to complete the regular-season sweep of the defending Southland Conference champions.

The Sugar Bears (20-4, 10-1 Southland) open up a two-game lead over the Cowgirls (17-7, 7-3) in the Southland's East Division standings, and remain the conference's overall leader with five games remaining with no other team having fewer than three league losses.

The win, the ninth in a row for UCA, gives the Sugar Bears their third consecutive 20-win season. It is the first time UCA has had three straight 20-win seasons since 2002-05.

"We've got a resilient group," said UCA head coach Matt Daniel. "It's a good team, a good family, and it's nice to come in here and steal one against another good team."

McNeese jumped out to an early 18-5 lead after Candace LaCombe hit three straight 3-pointers, giving the Cowgirls their biggest lead of the game less than seven minutes in.

But the Sugar Bears, as they have done so often this season, answered emphatically – finishing the game by outscoring the Cowgirls 59-35 from that point. UCA closed the first half with an 8-0 run to get within striking distance, then outscored McNeese 38-25 in the second half to pull away.

Trailing 39-38 with 11 minutes to play, the Sugar Bears went on a 14-2 run over the next six minutes to take a 52-41 lead and, seemingly, control of the game. The Cowgirls, whose only other home loss this season came at the hands of LSU, would not go away without a fight as they scored the next seven to slice the Sugar Bear lead to 52-48 with just under four minutes remaining.

Megan Herbert, who had 26 points and 11 rebounds to tie the UCA record for career double-doubles with 60, hit one of her four 3-pointers and then followed with another basket to push the Sugar Bear lead back to nine at 57-48 with under two minutes to go.

A Nakeia Guiden free throw made it 10, but LaCombe cut it to seven with another shot from beyond the arc. That would be as close as the Cowgirls would get as the Sugar Bears hit seven free throws down the stretch and kept McNeese from getting good looks from outside as time wound down.

Herbert finished the game 8-for-9 from the field and was perfect in her four 3-point attempts as she recorded her fifth straight double-double. She also made six of her 11 free throw attempts to move into fifth on the Southland career list. Desiree' Rogers had 11 points (including three 3-pointers), seven rebounds and two blocks for the Sugar Bears, and her sister Destinee had seven points, four rebounds, four assists and zero turnovers in 40 minutes.

The Cowgirls were led by LaCombe's 17 points, which came on 6-for-17 shooting including 5-for-16 from 3-point range. Martika Hull had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Kendra Wells had a game-high 16 rebounds.

After scoring 40 points in the first meeting between the teams this season, the Baggett twins were held to 11 on Saturday – all by Ashlyn. Caitlyn Baggett was held scoreless on 0-for-8 shooting.

For the game, the Cowgirls shot 33.3 percent, hitting just 24 percent (6-for-25) from 3-point range. The Sugar Bears shot 56.3 percent in the decisive second half, hitting five of their 10 3-point attempts. UCA also outscored the Cowgirls 18-7 at the free throw line.

The Sugar Bears will be off Wednesday before returning to action next Saturday in the Farris Center against West Division leader Sam Houston State.