2016–17 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears basketball team

The 2016–17 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears basketball team represented the University of Central Arkansas during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Sugar Bears were led by fifth year head coach Sandra Rushing and played their home games at the Farris Center as members of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 26–5, 16–2 tied for first place in conference play. They were champions of the Southland women's tournament. They received an invitation to the NCAA tournament marking their second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. Their season ended in the first round with a loss to the Texas Longhorns.

2016–17 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears basketball
Co-Southland Conference regular season Southland Tournament Champions
NCAA tournament, first round
Conference	Southland Conference
Record	26–5 (16–2 Southland)
Head coach	Sandra Rushing (5th season)
Assistant coaches	Greg Long Shameka Thomas Arissa Jackson
Home arena	Farris Center

2016–17 Southland Conference women's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Central Arkansas†	16	–	2		.889			26	–	5		.839
Abilene Christian*	16	–	2		.889			23	–	9		.719
Lamar	15	–	3		.833			22	–	8		.733
Stephen F. Austin	14	–	4		.778			25	–	8		.758
New Orleans	9	–	9		.500			14	–	15		.483
McNeese State	8	–	10		.444			14	–	17		.452
Texas A&M-CC	8	–	10		.444			14	–	18		.438
Northwestern State	7	–	11		.389			13	–	17		.433
Nicholls State	7	–	11		.389			10	–	20		.333
Incarnate Word*	7	–	11		.389			9	–	20		.310
Houston Baptist	4	–	14		.222			6	–	22		.214
SE Louisiana	3	–	15		.167			5	–	24		.172
Sam Houston State	3	–	15		.167			3	–	25		.107
† 2017 Southland tournament winner As of March 20, 2017 *ineligible for conference and NCAA tournament postseason play due to Div. I transition Rankings from AP poll

Schedule

Sources:

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	Site (attendance) city, state
Non-conference regular Schedule
Nov 11, 2016* 6:00 pm		Hendrix College	W 71–39	1–0	Farris Center (876) Conway, AR
Nov 13, 2016* 6:00 pm		at Texas A&M	L 49–74	1–1	Reed Arena (3,030) College Station, TX
Nov 17, 2016* 5:30 pm		at Alcorn State	W 71–57	2–1	Davey Whitney Complex (503) Lorman, MS
Nov 22, 2016* 6:00 pm		Williams Baptist College	W 82–32	3–1	Farris Center  Conway, AR
Nov 29, 2016* 5:00 pm		Alcorn State	W 59–45	4–1	Farris Center  Conway, AR
Dec 2, 2016* 6:00 pm		Crowley's Ridge College	W 102–31	5–1	Farris Center  Conway, AR
Dec 12, 2016* 2:00 pm		Central Baptist College	W 94–47	6–1	Farris Center  Conway, AR
Dec 14, 2016* 5:30 pm		at Texas Tech	L 45–79	6–2	United Supermarkets Arena  Lubbock, TX
Dec 19, 2016* 4:00 pm		vs. Liberty UTSA Tournament	W 61–41	7–2	Convocation Center  San Antonio, TX
Dec 20, 2016* 4:00 pm		vs. Houston UTSA Tournament	W 69–55	8–2	Convocation Center  San Antonio, TX
Southland Conference Schedule
Dec 31, 2016 2:00 pm		Lamar	L 56–70	8–3 (0–1)	Farris Center  Conway, AR
Jan 2, 2017 6:00 pm		Northwestern State	W 76–43	9–3 (1–1)	Farris Center  Conway, AR
Jan 7, 2017 2:00 pm		at Abilene Christian	L 76–83	9–4 (1–2)	Abilene Christian  Abilene, TX
Jan 11, 2017 1:00 pm		at Houston Baptist	W 80–49	10–4 (2–2)	Sharp Gymnasium  Houston, TX
Jan 14, 2017 4:30 pm		at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	W 49–41	11–4 (3–2)	Dugan Wellness Center (752) Corpus Christi, TX
Jan 18, 2017 6:00 pm		McNeese State	W 67–52	12–4 (4–2)	Farris Center  Conway, AR
Jan 21, 2017 4:00 pm		at New Orleans	W 55–51	13–4 (5–2)	Lakefront Arena  New Orleans, LA
Jan 25, 2017 5:30 pm, ESPN3		at Stephen F. Austin	W 67–63	14–4 (6–2)	William R. Johnson Coliseum  Nacogdoches, TX
Jan 28, 2017 2:00 pm		Incarnate Word	W 63–50	15–4 (7–2)	Farris Center  Conway, AR
Jan 31, 2017 5:30 pm		at McNeese State	W 72–49	16–4 (8–2)	Burton Coliseum  Lake Charles, LA
Feb 4, 2017 2:00 pm		Southeastern Louisiana	W 77–55	17–4 (9–2)	Farris Center  Conway, AR
Feb 8, 2017 7:00 pm		Abilene Christian	W 80–70	18–4 (10–2)	Farris Center  Conway, AR
Feb 11, 2017 1:00 pm		at Nicholls State	W 61–52	19–4 (11–2)	Stopher Gym  Thibodaux, LA
Feb 15, 2017 7:00 pm		Sam Houston State	W 75–48	20–4 (12–2)	Farris Center  Conway, AR
Feb 18, 2017 2:00 pm		Houston Baptist	W 83–39	21–4 (13–2)	Farris Center  Conway, AR
Feb 22, 2017 5:30 pm		at Southeastern Louisiana	W 78–64	22–4 (14–2)	University Center  Hammond, LA
Feb 25, 2017 4:00 pm		Stephen F. Austin	W 70–58	23–4 (15–2)	Farris Center  Conway, AR
Mar 4, 2017 1:00 pm		at Northwestern State	W 62–51	24–4 (16–2)	Prather Coliseum  Natchitoches, LA
Southland Women's Tournament
Mar 11, 2017 1:00 pm, ESPN3	(1)	vs. (5) Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Semifinals	W 62–44	25–4	Merrell Center  Katy, TX
Mar 12, 2017 12:00 pm, CBSSN	(1)	vs. (3) Stephen F. Austin Finals	W 60–35	26–4	Merrell Center  Katy, TX
WBI
Mar 17, 2017* 1:30 pm		at Texas First Round	L 50–78	26–5	Frank Erwin Center  Austin, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time.

See also

2016–17 Central Arkansas Bears basketball team