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22 2022 NWA COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW | 11.6.2022 It's a homecoming for Brown, who comes back to the Lions after averaging 21 points per game while shooting 48% from the field for UAFS in the 2020 season. He sat out last year with an injury at New Mexico Junior College. It's been a seamless transition back into the program with his former teammates excited to have him again. "He is going to be a great replacement for any scoring that we need this year," Anderson said. "He had a heck of a freshman year. He really helps this team with his shooting and spreading the floor. Teams always have to worry about him, so it opens it up for the rest of us. He already knows the system and has hit the ground running." Women A quick stroll around the Stubblefield Center gives anyone a very good idea how successful the UAFS women's basketball program has been over the years. A national championship banner. Many conference championship banners. The Lions have been a standout program for quite a while now. But last year in many ways could be considered a program reset. There was a new coach bringing in a new system with the team coming off playing just nine total games in 2020 with COVID restrictions playing a role as well. There were quite a few obstacles for the Lions and then first-year coach Ryan McAdams, but that didn't stop them from laying a solid foundation and even making the conference postseason tournament. The Lions (7-18) stumbled out of the gates with a 2-7 nonconference schedule but quickly found their way after that. UAFS finished 5-11 down the stretch of the season and now look to build on that. "Any step is a good step," McAdams said. "We found a way to move forward. I was really proud of the growth and progress we were able to make over the year. Being able to get into the playoffs was special. There were measurements you can look at and point toward progress." UAFS, picked to finish 12th in the 16-team conference, will look to take that leap with a recruiting class of eight transfers and a true freshman to go along with five returners. Nya Stewart, Riley Hayes (Bentonville), Laurissa Campbell (Blytheville), Dala Allen and Hannah Boyett return from last year's team. Stewart is the leading returning scorer per game with seven points, while Hayes as a true freshman averaged four points. They each averaged an assist and a steal per game. Transfers Aaliyah Prince, Truth Taylor, Rodrea Echols, Esther Oluade, Sydney Nunley, Kayla Brundidge, McKenzie Piper and Sinetra Jones with freshman Abby Summitt (Greenwood) make up the newcomers looking to make an impact right away. UAFS n Continued from Page 21 Ryan McAdams UAFS Sports Information