Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1181012
Sunday, November 3, 2019 15 Northwest Arkansas Basketball She didn't specifically talk to Ramirez about doing that, but Ramirez took a similar path last year to be ready to play in Neighbors' faster paced attack. "Coming from TCU, I knew I needed to get in better shape because of the style of play here," Ramirez said. "I feel like I'm in the best shape I've ever been in. It's more of a physical and mental thing. I feel better about myself." Ramirez specifically worked to be- come a better defender. "A lot of people said 'she can't play any defense,'" Ramirez said of herself. "I really focused on the angles and watch- ing how each player plays and watching three feet this way, three feet that way. And I know somebody has my back if I do get beat." GETTING COMFORTABLE Neighbors said there's no question Dungee is a better player this season than she was last season, which should strike fear in opponents given her per- formance a year ago. She set a record for points in the SEC Tournament and a single-season school record for points. Dungee earned first-team All-SEC preseason honors and was named to at least one preseason All-American team thanks to her performance and some no- toriety comes with that. Neighbors said she's handled it well. "Because of the run, she's recognized everywhere she goes," Neighbor said. "That's not easy for anybody to deal with, but she's handled it in stride. That's a different type of pressure." Ramirez is the more vocal of the two, but that's also been a part of Dungee's growth. Neighbors said he has great trust in both players and recently stopped practice to reiterate the point. Ramirez thought about a 3-point shot in transi- tion but passed it up and shot a layup instead in a late-game situation in which her team was trailing by three points. "I told her 'just so you know I'd have been OK if you'd shot that (3-pointer),'" Neighbors said. "She said 'really?' I said 'absolutely. You're open at the 3-point line instead of us having to get a stop and go score again? I'll take my chances.'" The Razorbacks' chances for more success this season should also be better with Ramirez and Dungee in the back- court together. Paul Boyd can be reached at pboyd@nwadg. com or on Twitter @NWAPaulb. v Continued from preceding page NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. WAMPLER Guard Amber Ramirez takes a shot during practice Oct. 9 at the Arkansas Basketball Performance Center. Amber Ramirez CLASS Junior HEIGHT 5-9 SCOUTING REPORT Sat out last season after transfer- ring from Texas Christian. … Averaged just under 10 points per game in 59 games for the Lady Frogs and shot 38 percent from 3-point range. … Played in the McDonald's All-American after her senior season at Wagner High School in San Antonio. … Was a four-time first-team all-state selection by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches and Texas Girls Coaches As- sociation. … Scored 2,769 points in her high school career, ranking No. 2 in San Antonio city history. … Earned gold medal playing for Team USA at the 2016 FIBA America U18 Championships in Chile and claimed silver medal as team captain for Team USA at the 2016 FIBA 3-on-3 U18 World Championships in Kazakhstan.