Feb 19th, 2007 05:57AM
by:

UCA SID OFFICE

LAKE CHARLES, La. — UCA senior forward Caronica Randle became the school’s third all-time leading scorer in Saturday’s 66-56 win over McNeese State.

Randle came into the game needing 26 points to pass UCA Hall of Famer Terri Conder-Johnson, and hit that number with 5:05 remaining in the game on the second of two free throws.

“It wasn’t something we told Caronica,” UCA coach Checola Seals-Horton said. “I don’t know if she even thought about it. We’ve known for a few weeks if she kept averaging 15 a night she’d be able to pass Terri. It’s nice to see this happen for such a great and well-deserving person. It’s her senior year and when you can’t really get any outside accolades, it’s great to be able to take care of ones within our university. I’m excited that this went to her and that we were able to get a win with it.”

Randle, who also set a career high with six assists in the game, now has 2,021 career points, trailing Seals-Horton (2,459), and former teammate and current Sugar Bear assistant coach Carone Harris (2,447).

“You look at it and you see basically three generations and we’re all still at UCA,” Seals-Horton said. “You kind of have to laugh about it. It’d be nice if we were all playing together. But I thank the Lord I’m able to be a part of all of it. To be able to coach Carone for one year and Caronica three years, and see all of us back together and sitting 1-2-3 in scoring, it’s great.

“It also means I’m still bigger and better than them,” Seals joked. “I’m kidding – it couldn’t happen to greater people.”

That Randle’s 26th point came at the free throw line is fitting, as she also passed Harris for the UCA career lead in free-throw attempts — finishing the game with 763, passing Harris’ old mark of 758.

“She was busy tonight and didn’t even know it,” Seals-Horton said.

With three games left in Randle’s career, the head coach isn’t worried about her star making up the 439-point differential.

“I don’t think that one’s going to happen,” she said. “I don’t think she can even get Coach Harris. But this has been fun, I’ve enjoyed it.”