SPRINGDALE -- Springdale girls basketball coach Heather Hunsucker knew when she put together the Lady Bulldogs' schedule her team would be faced with early-season challenges.

Little Rock Central, arguably the top girls team in Class 7A and loaded with college talent, cruised to a 69-49 win on the road Tuesday. It's the first of a handful of stern tests for Springdale in nonconference play.

The Lady Tigers disproved the scouting report on themselves early and jumped out to a 19-2 lead behind four first-quarter 3-pointers and a pair of second-chance buckets. Springdale committed its only turnovers of the first half in that span and Central pounced.

"That's what we do," Central coach Michael Green said. "We try to force the team to play at our pace. Without a doubt (our pressure bothered them). I told our perimeter players to close out on the shooters and make them have to put the ball down and drive to our bigs down there so we can alter shots and make them take all kinds of shots."

The Lady Bulldogs' lone points during Central's opening run came at the free-throw line, but after falling behind by 17, Springdale battled back and finished the quarter trailing 26-13.

"I'm taking some of the blame," Hunsucker said. "I was told to pack it in and make them shoot, then they come out and hit four 3s. We got punched in the mouth, but I loved the way they responded from that point on."

Springdale went into the halftime break down 44-26 and struggled offensively to open the third quarter. Senior guard Haley Dougan, who was held scoreless in the first half, knocked home a 3-pointer for her first points of the night and Springdale's first of the quarter. Following a 1-of-11 shooting effort in the third, shots began falling for Hunsucker's club late.

Guard Destiny Jackson, scoring a game-high 20 points, found her shot and sunk three from long distance and added a layup, pulling the Lady Bulldogs to within 13, 59-46, with under four to play.

Hunsucker said Jackson's play Tuesday was a culmination of "the light coming on" in tournament play the week before.

"She really started, and this is what's fun coaching a new team, as we played in that tournament (last week)," Hunsucker said. "I think tonight you saw that, and she's starting to understand the system. I think if we shoot the ball better I think that's a different game."

Green also gave Jackson her props after Central's win.

"She did a good job, and she put it on the floor a couple times and got in there. She's going to be a good little player," Green said.

Central was balanced offensively with four players in double figures. Auburn and Mississippi State signees Abigayle Jackson and Bre'Amber Scott combined for 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting. Jordan Greenwood scored a team-high 16 and Erynn Barnum added 14.

Albeit the final score wasn't what Hunsucker would have liked, she can confidently walk away from the loss with positives to build on.

"This schedule I have them playing is on purpose," she said. How do you prepare for the state tournament if you don't play teams you're going to see? It's a very hard first few games. We've just got to make sure not to get our heads down, but I like our fight for sure."

Springdale is back in action Dec. 2-3 when it hosts Cabot and Conway.