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One for the Books
Spring Signings Add Defensive Depth, Paint Presence
Ashley Arnold ’11 makes history as first Lady Lion to play 4 years the first player ever to play four seasons for the Lady Lions, starting every game of her junior and senior seasons. Of the 120 total games she played, though, she saved the best for last, scoring a career-high 28 points, hitting 6 of 10 from outside the arc, and notching five rebounds, three assists, and seven steals in 39 minutes of playing time against Ecclesia College. The Lady Lions won 97-52. Perhaps most importantly, Arnold worked just as hard in the classroom as on the court, earning a Sally McSpadden Boreham Scholarship and a consistent place on the university’s All-Academic Team on the way to her bachelor’s degree in business adminGames istration. 120 —Jessica Points Martin ’10 714
Career Numbers
Assists 219 Rebounds 347 Steals 171
Senior guard Ashley Arnold led the Lady Lions in steals and three-pointers during her last season.
KAT WILSON ’96
WHEN HER COACHES LEARNED before the start of last season that UA Fort Smith would have to remain a provisional member of NCAA Division II for a second year—making the university ineligible for postseason play—senior guard Ashley Arnold was given the option to red-shirt. That would have allowed her to return next season to play for a Heartland Conference championship, but Arnold chose instead to stick with her team this season as one of only two seniors, keeping the Lady Lions focused on establishing themselves as fierce contenders in the conference. And that’s exactly what they did, finishing the season at 20-5 overall and 11-1 in conference play. Even without a Heartland Conference championship, the 5’8” guard from Mountainburg leaves UA Fort Smith with an impressive record, having helped lead her team to a Bi-State Conference Championship, an NJCAA Region II Tournament Championship, and a third-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament. Arnold also made UA Fort Smith history as
IT WAS A WATERSHED season for head coach Josh Newman’s Lions, who finished the year at 19-10, a dramatic improvement over last year’s 9-18 mark. That trend should continue next season with the spring signing of two impressive forwards and a mountainous center, Chase Hilton. “Chase will give us a presence that we honestly have not had in my five years,” says Coach Newman of the 6’11” Hilton, who averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds, and six blocks per game his senior year. “To put it bluntly, Chase is a huge young man.” The Lions also signed Chukwukere Ekeh, a 6’9” power forward from Little Rock who averaged nine points, seven rebounds, and three blocks last season for the Central Tigers, despite battling a hip injury. Ekeh has also been awarded a prestigious Chancellor’s Leadership Council Scholarship. Dusan Stojanovic, from Serbia, is the younger brother of current player Djordje Stojanovic. The younger Stojanovic, says Newman, “is a terrific passer, ball-handler, and driver for his size,” but it’s his athleticism and defensive skills that have the coaching staff most excited. The Lions open their home season November 16 against Southeastern Oklahoma.
Brainy Bunch ADRIANNA CARTER ’11
Handing out the annual All Academic Awards at the Stubblefield Center in February was a big job, as the university recognized 49 student-athletes maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or better. That’s nearly 40% of all UAFS athletes. Throw in the 36 cheerleaders, pom squad members, and athletic band musicians carrying a 3.0 or better, and you’re looking at a pretty brainy bunch. The single team with the highest average GPA? Women’s tennis.
UA Fort Smith BELL TOWER
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