Sugar Bears open season at Mizzou with new roster, familiar leaders

CONWAY, Ark. — The UCA Sugar Bears open their 2025-26 women’s basketball campaign on Monday traveling to face the Missouri Tigers in Columbia, Mo., with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Sugar Bears coach Tony Kemper and the Sugar Bears enter the season with a blend of returning standout players and a large influx of newcomers.

Among returners, senior forward Bree Stephens, last season’s ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, leads the way. She ranked 10th in the nation in blocks and was a defensive force.

Also back is sophomore guard Cheyanne Kemp, who posted six games of double-digit scoring last year and is expected to take on a larger role this season after the departure of the team’s top four scorers.

The roster includes five transfers and four freshmen. Among the transfers is graduate guard Shae Littleford from UT Martin, a player who has scored more than 1,000 career points and brings a shooting threat to Central Arkansas.

Additional transfers include guards and forwards such as Paris Santacaterina from San Diego, Julianna Gibson from Saint Francis, and Linda Amaning from St. Peters. Each adds length, athleticism, or perimeter skill to the squad.

Freshmen joining the Sugar Bears include three local players from Conway High School: Emerie Bohanon, a 1,000-point scorer in high school; Alexis Cox, a three-time all-conference and two-time all-state selection; and her sister Alivia Cox, who brings a multi-sport athletic background. The fourth freshman is Carla Ramirez from Spain, a guard with versatility and defensive instincts.

Missouri enters with its own transition underway. New coach Kellie Harper begins her tenure in Columbia, and the Tigers will lean on junior forward Grace Slaughter, who averaged 15.0 points per game last season and is on the watchlist for the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award.

Missouri boasts a 41-10 record in season openers and is 43-8 in home openers. The stage is set for the Sugar Bears to test themselves early against a well-established program.

The game will be streamed on SECN+ and live stats will be available online. Sugar Bear fans can also follow on the radio via 91.3 The Bear with Steve Owens calling the action.

With so many new faces, development and chemistry will be key for the Sugar Bears. Stephens anchors the defense, Kemp expands her role on offense, and the transfers and freshmen must adjust quickly in an Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) schedule that will challenge them week-in and week-out.

Coach Kemper and his staff will count on experience from returners and fresh energy from newcomers as they navigate a non-conference slate highlighted by the opener at Missouri. The early test offers a measurement of where the team stands and how ready it is for the season ahead.

Key takeaways

• The Central Arkansas Sugar Bears begin the 2025-26 season at Missouri, facing the Tigers in Columbia.

• Central Arkansas returns defensive standout Bree Stephens and rising guard Cheyanne Kemp while adding nine new players.

• Coach Tony Kemper’s roster features a mix of upper-class returners and a large class of transfers and freshmen, making early chemistry a priority.