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FORT SMITH — Extend the season by one more game. That's the goal for the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith men's basketball team after making its third first-round appearance in the past four years at the NCAA Division II tournament last sea- son. "We use different phrases in our program like 'one more'," UAFS coach Josh Newman said. "Well, we want to play in one more game than we did last year. That would mean making it to the second round of the tournament for the first time." Last season the Lions won their third regular season Heartland Conference championship and won their first con- ference tournament championship. But the Lions fell just short again of advanc- ing in the NCAA tournament. "What a magical year it was for us," Newman said. "The one thing that had eluded us was the conference tourna- ment championship. But now the one thing we are missing in our short history is an NCAA tournament win." UAFS will look to change that fact this season returning a talented core from last year's 23-11 team while adding a deep recruiting class looking to make an impact right away. The Lions will look to overcome the losses of Seth Youngblood, the leading scorer, and Alex Cooper, the leader in assists, who both played big minutes during the last four seasons. "Those guys where program-chang- ing talents," Newman said. "They will be missed. But we have a lot of returners. With the number of guys coming back with their experience level, it's a pretty special group we have." Returning seniors DaVaunta Thomas, Ladarius Coleman, Marcus Wallace and Brett Jolly provide experience alongside senior transfers Darrion Strong-Moore and Derrick Dandrige. Thomas is the leading scorer from returning players after averaging 12 points and 6 rebounds per game a sea- son ago. Coleman added 10 points and 6 rebounds on average, while Wallace scored 7 points per game. WOMEN Just off to the right of second-year UAFS women's basketball coach Elena Lovato's office is a whiteboard with the team's depth chart. The board has much more writing on Sunday, November 5, 2017 17 2017 Northwest Arkansas Basketball Bailey Zimmerman POSITION Guard/Forward HEIGHT 6-0 CLASS Junior HOMETOWN St. Vincent LAST SEASON Started 23 of 30 games and scored in double figures twice with a high of 14 against Missouri. … Ranked third on the team with 24 3-point- ers made. … Played with a broken nose and six stitches in her forehead for the final six games. THE SKINNY "Authentic, enthusiasm and re- lentless effort are two indicators for our team success. We count on Bailey to provide the spark for those two every practice and need them be very evident come game time. Her activity level with act as a gauge for us ev- ery second she is on the court." — Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors Taylah Thomas POSITION Forward HEIGHT 6-1 CLASS Freshman HOMETOWN Arlington, Tex- as LAST SEASON Averaged 10.6 points and 7.6 rebounds for a Mansfield team that finished as Class 5A state runner-up in Tex- as and made the all-state tournament team. … Earned all-district and all-state honors. … Played for former Razorback Kit Kyle Martin in high school. THE SKINNY "Papa Neighbors always said, 'if they will bite, they will bite as pups.' This pup (freshman) will bite. Not literally but figu- ratively in her pursuit of excellence. She is as hard on herself (which is a great quality on our scheme) as any freshman I've had. She wants to be excellent on and off the court." — Arkan- sas coach Mike Neighbors Chelsea Dungee POSITION Guard HEIGHT 5-11 CLASS Sophomore HOMETOWN Sapulpa, Okla. LAST SEASON Earned Big 12 All-Freshman team at Oklahoma where she av- eraged 7.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 33 games, including 18 starts. … Went 6 of 12 from the floor with two 3 -pointers against Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors' Washington team in the NCAA Tournament. … Transferring to Arkansas. THE SKINNY "Sitting out from competition is the toughest thing ever for a player like Chels. We will find ways to challenge her, develop her game, and still impact this year's team on the practice floor. Has a rare quality of being able to compete for every win possible but remain a great teammate. We will count on her to sim- ulate every opponents best player which will expand her game that is already SEC-ready." — Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors Macy Weaver POSITION Freshman HEIGHT 6-3 CLASS Freshman HOMETOWN Davis Junc- tion, Ill. LAST SEASON Surpassed 1,000 career points at Still- man Valley, Ill. and earned AP all-state second team honors in Class 3A. … Averaged 19.9 points per game as a senior. .. Also played volleyball and softball in high school. THE SKINNY "From our first conversation we could sense her love for being a Razorback. You can hear it in her words and she backs it up with her actions. She loves to be coached and that will be her greatest strength in her individual development and our team's." — Ar- kansas coach Mike Neighbors v Continued from preceding page Lions men looking to get to next round; women see more depth Courtesy Photo UAFS Sports Information UAFS senior guard Olivia Hanson of Fort Smith Northside scored almost 10 points per game last season. Hanson will miss the first part of the season dealing with injuries but is expected to return. U A F S P R E V I E W HAROLD MCILVAIN II SPECIAL TO THE NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE See UAFS, Page 18