CONWAY, Ark. – Northwestern State suffered its worst loss in Southland Conference play on Saturday since the 2005-06 season, after it fell to Central Arkansas 84-43 in women's basketball action.

The loss was the third straight suffered by NSU (4-12, 0-3) and seventh loss in the last eight games.  UCA improved to 12-4 on the season and moved to 2-1 in the league as it rebounded from a loss to Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday.

Trudy Armstead led NSU with 11 and nine rebounds and was the only player on the squad to record double-digits in points.

The Lady Demons managed to hit just 17 of 60 for 28.3 percent from the floor, including a 3 for 14 mark for 21.4 percent from three-point range.  NSU also made just 6 of 14 for 42.9 percent from the free throw line.

UCA had six players score in double figures, led by Megan Herbert's 13 points and 10 rebounds.  Westin Taylor and Courtney Duever added 12 points each while Micah Rice scored 11 and Desiree Rogers 10.

The Sugar Bears connected on 29 of 61 shots from the field for 47.5 percent, including hitting 16 of 28 for 57.1 percent in the second half to open up a 40-21 halftime lead.  UCA also connected on 11 of 25 for 44 percent from long range and outrebounded the Lady Demons by a 47-36 margin.

NSU scored the game's first two points after Meredith Graf hit a jumper just a minute and a half into the game to give the Lady Demons a 2-0 lead.  After that, the Sugar Bears went on an 18-6 run to go up 18-8 midway through the first half.

The Lady Demons cut a 12 point deficit to 21-12 after Ronikka Drake hit a 3-pointer with 9:02 to go and the lead was 12 at 28-16 after a Tiandra Williams layup with 5:39 to go.  But the Sugar Bears got a couple of treys from Herbert and Rice to end the half with a 19-point lead.

UCA built a 20-point lead right off the bat in the second half after Nakeia Guiden knocked down a trey just 10 seconds into the frame and NSU would not get the lead back under 20 the remainder of the game.

The 41-point loss was the largest in conference play since the Lady Demons dropped an 83-43 decision to Texas-Arlington on Feb. 9, 2006.

Next up for the Lady Demons, as they'll be searching for their first league win of the season, will be against Texas-San Antonio on Wednesday in Prather Coliseum.