NWADG Basketball

16 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS BASKETBALL | 11.22.2020 PAUL BOYD NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FAYETTEVILLE — Destiny Slocum already excelled at both Maryland and Oregon State, but she felt Arkansas would be a perfect fit to end her college basketball career. The Razorbacks women's basketball team hasn't finalized its schedule yet because of the covid-19 pandemic, but the standout guard already feels right at home. "It's been everything I was told it was gonna be and that I thought it was gonna be," Slocum said. "It's been a good transition." Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors recruited Slocum out of high school when he was at Washington, so she acknowledged they already had a bond. But the running Razorbacks were just what she was looking for. "His program fits my game the best," said Slocum, who was a two-time All- Pac 12 selection and was chosen Big 10 Freshman of the Year. "Not only connecting with my teammates, but I feel like their games compliment me so well. Honestly, just the culture here fits my personality and my game the best." Arkansas was already set for a nice follow-up to last year's season that would have surely ended in an NCAA Tournament bid if not for the pandemic. The Razorbacks return four players who started every game a year ago, led by All-Southeastern Conference guard Chelsea Dungee. She transferred from Oklahoma after her freshman year and has already topped 1,500 points in her career. Senior Amber Ramirez hit 106 3-pointers last season, ranking second in the NCAA. Her 3-point percentage of .447 ranked ninth. But add to that one of the top transfers in the country with Slocum along with a talented freshman class. Not to mention, senior Jailyn Mason, who started more 97 games in her first three seasons, returns after redshirting last year because of an injury. Neighbors agreed the group was improved from a year ago, despite the graduation of Alex Tolefree, an All-SEC first-team selection. "Even though Lex had a tremendous senior season, we're 10 to 15 points better offensively per game than we were last year," Neighbors said. Others believe the Razorbacks will be a force as well as they are ranked No. 14 in the country in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll, their highest preseason ranking since 1995. Dungee and Slocum have also already been noticed individually, too. Dungee, a 5-11 redshirt senior, was named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award preseason watch list as one of the top 20 shooting guards in the country. Slocum, a 5-7 senior grad transfer, was also selected to the Nancy Lieberman Award watch list for the third year. Defenses have struggled in college football in today's pandemic world and that could be something that carries over the basketball, Neighbors said. "Defense is gonna be behind," SLOCUM ADDS TO ARKANSAS' HIGH-POWERED ATTACK Destiny Slocum NWA Democrat-Gazette/Charlie Kaijo Amber Ramirez returns to the Arkansas backcourt this season as one of the top 3-point shooters in the Southeastern Conference. Ramirez hit a school-record 106 3-pointers last season and averaged 14.7 points per game last season for the Razorbacks. See SLOCUM, Page 18

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