FORT SMITH, Ark. - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Women's Basketball tips off the 2024-25 season Friday afternoon as the Lions open the year with the MIAA/GAC Challenge.
UAFS will face Southern Arkansas at 2 p.m. Friday followed by an 8 p.m. matchup against UA-Monticello Saturday. Both games will take place at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas.
Games will be streamed on the MIAA Network with live stats available at uafortsmithlions.com.
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LAST SEASON: The Lions finished 2023-24 at 11-18 overall and qualified for the Lone Star Conference Tournament.
SEASON OPENERS: UAFS is 9-6 in season openers in the NCAA II era.
KEY RETURNERS: UAFS returns three starters from a year ago in guards Hannah Boyett, Morgan Browning and Zyniah Thomas. The Lions also return forward Sinetra Jones, who started nine games last season.
NEW FACES: The Lions feature eight newcomers this year with four freshmen and four transfers. Guards Telisha Brown and Oliva Johnson have both started games at the collegiate level while freshman Anna Trusty was the 2023-24 Gatorade Arkansas Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
RECORD WATCH: Boyett is the program's leading scorer in the NCAA II era with 894 points and also holds the record for most made threes with 198. Jones ranks 10th with 38 blocked shots.
SCOUTING SAU: The Muleriders went 13-15 last season and will be under the direction of first-year head coach Darrick Matthews. SAU returns three of its top five scorers from last season, led by guard Addy Tremie, who averaged 12.5 points per game.
SCOUTING UAM: The Blossoms went 8-20 last season and returns its top four scorers from a year ago, led by forward Bailey Harris at 14.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
THE SERIES: UAFS is 2-1 all-time against Southern Arkansas and 7-3 versus UA-Monticello.
HEAD COACH: Ryan McAdams enters his fourth season leading the Lions, having posted a 28-54 mark in his first three seasons.
