The Central Arkansas women's basketball team in practice doesn't look like the team that finished last season.
While playing the best defense in the Southland Conference, the Sugar Bears won 28 games a year ago -- their most victories since moving to NCAA Division I in 2005. The victory total also tied the program's best, and the Sugar Bears made the NCAA Tournament for the first time.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS SUGAR BEARS
LAST YEAR’S RECORD 28-4 overall, 16-2 Southland
COACH Sandra Rushing (78-45 in fifth season at Central Arkansas, 481-300 in 28th season overall)
KEY RETURNERS G Maggie Proffitt (14.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg), G Brianna Mullins (10.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg), F Taylor Baudoin (9.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg), C Raquel Logan (4.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
KEY LOSSES G Kendara Watts (8.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg), G Jameka Watkins (5.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg), G Sandy Jackson (4.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
Returning to the tournament remains UCA's objective, but minus two starters from last year's team, Coach Sandra Rushing said she doesn't see it yet.
That's fine in October, she said.
"We're not supposed to look good right now," she said.
What makes Rushing, who is starting her fifth season at UCA and 28th overall, hopeful is the return of two proven scorers who could make the Sugar Bears more potent on offense.
UCA was fifth in the Southland in scoring last season at 65.1 points per game. It leaned heavily on a defense that held teams to 52.9 ppg, tops in the league and 12th nationally. In 18 conference games, UCA held its opponents to 60 points or fewer 15 times.
With Maggie Proffitt, who averaged 14.2 ppg, and Brianna Mullins, who averaged 10.4, Rushing said she hopes to score more and rely on defense less.
"I don't want to compare, but we may not be as good of a defensive team," Rushing said. "I'm hoping that we have the possibility to be a better scoring team this year."
A possible step back on defense is rooted in the loss of Kendara Watts, who started 26 games last year, and the reliance on newcomers. UCA has five first-year players, one of whom, Kierra Jordan, won't be eligible until the second semester after transferring from Southern Miss. The loss of sophomore forward Tieraney Paylor, who was expected to contribute more than the 4.6 minutes she averaged last year, for the season with an injury to her Achilles doesn't help.
That's what puts the responsibility of this season on Proffitt and Mullins.
Proffitt, a senior from Columbus, Miss., was a first-team all-Southland pick last year and is second in UCA history with 195 three-pointers made. Rushing thinks she can do more this year, adding improved defense and a diversified offensive game.
"She's no longer a one-dimensional player," Rushing said. "She's learned to play defense and be in the right position."
Rushing would like to move Mullins from point guard to shooting guard, but her 89 career starts at the position mean she'll still have plenty or responsibility.
"She may be directing and calling, but she doesn't necessarily have to have the ball in her hand," Rushing said.
That leaves center Raquel Logan, whom Rushing said is the most vocal of her players, and forward Taylor Baudoin as the only other players with significant starting experience. Logan started 21 games last season while scoring 4.8 points and grabbing 6.1 rebounds, and Baudoin started 18 while averaging 9.3 points and 6.3 rebounds.
It's a good core, Rushing said, but one that leaves a need for contributions from newcomers.
Jordan came from Southern Miss, center Cera Ledbetter from Central Arizona and guard Bhrea Griffin from Jones County (Miss.) Junior College.
If it all comes together, Rushing hopes for a season that ends in the same place as a year ago -- not that she's comparing the two
"They need to establish their own identity," she said. "Last year was great for us. But we cannot compare last year's team to this year's team. Sometimes people get caught up in that and players get caught up in that. But we do have the same goals as we had last year."
Sports on 10/31/2016