UCAFANS.COM | GO UCA BEARS!

Sugar Bears opener Friday night at 7 at the Farris Center. We beat UMKC 74-62 last year in KC, however only three members of last year's team will be on the court this time around!

Come on out ad help this young group out!

http://www.ucasports.com/sport.asp?action=news&sportid=5&article=2184

KANGAROOS UP FIRST FOR SUGAR BEARS
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL • Nov 8, 2007

CONWAY — In 2006, the University of Central Arkansas Sugar Bears got their first road win of the season with a victory at UMKC. In 2007, they begin their season by trying to keep the Kangaroos from returning the favor.

UCA tips off it's women's basketball season Friday night in the Farris Center at 7 p.m. against UMKC, a team the Sugar Bears defeated 74-62 in Kansas City last season. However, the team fourth-year head coach Checola Seals-Horton puts on the floor for the season opener will bear little resemblance to the one that knocked off the Kangaroos last year...

Here's our first opportunity to support this young Sugar Bear team!!! How many are coming to the Farris Center tonight?

I wish I was, but I am not going to be able to leave Memphis until tomorrow!

I may make it by the Farris Center at some point, but since this is the next-to-last volleyball game, I'll probably be over there most of the night.

Other than a weak streak late 1st half and early 2nd, SBs gave it a go tonight aganst the Kangaroos. They were down 16 (48-32) at one point and got to 50-46 before UMKC eased ahead again and SBs had to fight back to 6-7 a couple of times.....

Final score was UMKC by 73-63.

Tough first game loss. Give them an A for effort and an A+ for learning experience. They kept coming back but just could not get over the hump.

Coach Checola: 1st half was nervous with so many new players....2nd half much better....poor free throw shooting...hit FTs and be in the game ...SBs out rebounded UMKC..... good to see......with our size we should own the boards....

UCA/UMKC shooting:
FGs: 20/54=37%; 39%
3s: 6/13 = 46%; 25%
FTs: 17/28= 61%; 23/35= 65%


SB leaders (points/rebounds/assist/blocks):

Meagan Nickell (FR): 14/6/2 (4 of 5 from 3)
Meaghan Kellybrew (SO): 13/3/1/4
Jayme Adair (FR): 11/8/1/1

GoSugarBears!!

I only got to see the last 10 minutes or so, so I can't add much.

But they seemed to struggle making shots when they got into the lane. They also had a few opportunities where someone would drive and make a pass that was just mishandled.

Honestly though, I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw. I was really dreading this season - on paper. I don't think we're as (cliche alert) athletic as we were last year. But the size inside will be a key asset.

http://www.ucasports.com/sport.asp?action=news&sportid=5&article=2188

KANGAROOS CAPITALIZE AS MISCUES MAR SUGAR BEARS
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL • Nov 9, 2007

CONWAY — Despite making a strong run in the second half, committing 19 first-half turnovers and allowing 35 free throw attempts proved to be too much for the University of Central Arkansas Sugar Bears to overcome as they dropped their season opener 73-63 to the UMKC Kangaroos in the Farris Center.

The tone was set from the outset, with the Sugar Bears (0-1) committing turnovers on their first four possessions. By the half, UMKC (1-0) had converted 19 turnovers into 19 points as they took a 42-28 lead into the locker room...

My observations and my opinion only, others may have their own:

Needs Work:
Turnovers
Free Throw Shooting
Failure to capitalize as the game got late with chances to cut into the lead

The Good:
Finally getting on the court and playing against an opponent other than yourselves...
Outside shooting...
Playing their tails off and coming back after getting down by so many in both the first and second halves...
Rebounding...
Hustle and agressiveness...

The crowd was good too (487), pleased with the turnout and with the noise they made, particularly in the 2nd half...

I'm still in a quandry as to what happened to the players that didn't graduate but yet didn't return this season. Any ideas?

no, not really...I know one or two were really close to graduating and had other opportunities in the educational side of things, so maybe that was a reason. But I havent really asked, and probably wont either now at this point.

If the girls we do have play the way they did from about midway through the first half on, minus a many number of the turnovers, things should be ok this season!

Thanks. I'll see ya in about 12-13. I'm going to the couch and turn in.

I also thought the team played very physical, which is normally not a characteristic of Sugarbear teams. If we can play an entire game like we did in the 2nd half, this team will be just fine. Checola does some of her best coaching when you hand her lemons and she turns it into lemonade. This team has got that capability. Meagan Nickell is the bomb from 3 point range.