FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Women's Basketball officially gets the regular season underway this week, playing three games in five days.
UAFS will visit UA – Monticello on Tuesday before hosting its home opener Thursday against Central Oklahoma at Gayle Kaundart Arena at the Stubblefield Center. It will close the week with a Saturday matchup at East Central University. Tip times are 6 p.m. Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. Thursday and 4 p.m. Saturday.
Live stats and video links for all three games can be found at uafortsmithlions.com.
NOTES:
LAST SEASON: UAFS finished 3-6 in a 2020-21 season that was shortened by COVID-19.
EXHIBITION: The Lady Lions got the opportunity to play in an exhibition at Arkansas November 5. Guard Paige Elston led all scorers with 20 points while guard Ashanti Eden added 11.
SEASON OPENER: UAFS is 7-5 in season openers since becoming an NCAA II member in 2009-10.
PRESEASON POLL: UAFS was picked to finish 14th in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll.
KEY RETURNERS: The top six leading scorers and nine of 11 who scored last season return for the Lions. Its top two scorers, forward Mar'Shalia Lollie and guard Hannah Boyett, were second and third team All-LSC selections last season, respectively.
NEW FACES: Five players have joined the UAFS program for this season, including four freshmen – Rebecca Christodoulou, Kalina Foster, Dala Allen and Riley Hayes – as well as transfer Shania Wilson.
RECORD WATCH: Guard Hannah Boyett ranks fourth all-time with 99 career made three pointers. Forward Mar'Shalia Lollie ranks just outside the top 10 with 297 career rebounds.
HEAD COACH RYAN MCADAMS: Ryan McAdams enters his first season as coach of the Lions after spending the last four seasons as an assistant coach at New Mexico State.
THE SERIES: UAFS leads the series, 5-2, against UA – Monticello. It is 3-8 versus Central Oklahoma and 1-1 against East Central.
SCOUTING UAM: The Cotton Blossoms lost their first two games of the season over the weekend, both by double figures. Guard Taylor Flores scored 23 points in their loss at Lincoln.
SCOUTING UCO: The Bronchos are 2-0 and play Tuesday before heading to the Stubblefield Center. Forward Kelsey Johnson leads UCO with 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
SCOUTING ECU: The Tigers open their season Wednesday before hosting UAFS Saturday. They graduated their leading scorer last season, with guard Mackenzie Crusoe returning to lead the Tigers after averaging 12.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game a year ago.
