# 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.

## 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. ||||||