CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas women's basketball team is set to announce a terrific signing class that features three high schoolers and five transfers, bringing a unique blend of experience, athleticism and skill to the 2025-26 Sugar Bears.
 
"We are really excited about this signing class. Our incoming freshmen have been an integral part of one of the powerhouse high school programs in the region and have won many games, including a state championship," Head coach Tony Kemper said of the class. "And these transfers are a group that match our values on the court and in the classroom. Together, this group has the talent to live up to the high expectations that will exist for Central Arkansas Women's Basketball."
 
The freshmen class consists of three Conway High School products, in Emerie Bohanon, Alexis Cox and Alivia Cox. Behind these three, Conway High has been a mainstay in the title conversation in 6A, including a state title in 2023 and a runner up appearance in 2024.
 
Bohanan is a three-time all-conference, and two-time all-state and -tournament guard that has a great ability to shoot the ball and crafty moves around the rim. She reached 1,000 points in her high school career, and was named an AHSCA All-Star in April.
 
"Emerie is a very athletic and passionate shooting guard. We love her positive energy and expect her shooting and communication to translate to the collegiate game on day one." – Coach Kemper
 
Alexis Cox, a 5-10 guard, is a three-time all-conference, two-time all-state and -tournament team honoree, as well as a 1^st Team Arkansas Underclassman and a 1^st Team All-Arkansas. She was named Offensive MVP at the Sandra Meadows Classic, and is a versatile scorer with two-way abilities, impacting the game on both ends of the floor.
 
"Alexis is one of the best versatile scoring guards in the state. She can create through penetration but also stretch the floor from three. She will be impactful in rebounding and on the defensive end of the floor immediately." – Coach Kemper
 
Alivia Cox, Alexis' sister, is a multi-sport athlete, lettering in basketball and volleyball while at Conway High, helping both teams to 6A championship appearances. She'll bring a blend of many talents, able to impact the ball on both sides using her athleticism and skill.
 
"Alivia is a good atlhete that can play inside and outside. She'll bring athleticism to our team and that really comes out in the way she chases the ball on the defensive end. She is a great teammate and her communication skills will be a positive asset the day she steps on campus." – Coach Kemper
 
"We knew it was going to be important to get Conway players to stay home and this year's class speaks to that focus. This group all has strong family connections to the University of Central Arkansas, and it's neat to keep these legacy kids at home." Coach Kemper added.
 
The transfers will join the Sugar Bears with a dearth of skills and abilities that will bring plenty of basketball experience to the Farris Center. With five athletes capable of impacting the game in a ton of different ways, the group looks to add to a Central Arkansas squad that has made back-to-back ASUN Championship Finals.
 
"This group adds to a good nucleus of returning talent, led by the 2025 ASUN Defensive Player of the Year in Bree Stephens, as well as a good group of high school signees from the fall."
 
Shae Littleford will join the team from UT Martin, bringing with her four years of Division I experience. A competent scorer from both beyond the arc and at the rim, with a penchant for finding her way to the free throw line, Littleford reached 1,000 career points in 86 games as a Skyhawk. In her time at UT Martin, she was named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team in 2022, an All-OVC Second Team player in 2023, and finished third in free throw percentage and in the top-10 in steals per game in the OVC this past season.
 
"Shae brings instant leadership and a proven track record of scoring the ball. We have known about Shae's game from playing against her the last two years and saw a skill set that will instantly be put to use here at UCA. She will help replace the scoring, ball handling and decision making that graduated from this past year's team. I love her competitive spirit and she will add a maturity level that we coveted from the beginning of this recruiting cycle." – Coach Kemper
 
Paris Santacaterina comes to Central Arkansas from the University of San Diego, via a familiar place in Dodge City. Playing a season with returning Sugar Bear Bree Stephens, Santacaterina brings a similar blend of multifaceted basketball with her as the previous Dodge City Sugar Bears. In two seasons at Dodge City and a few games at San Diego, the Australian posted nearly 800 points, along with 300 rebounds and 200 assists. Her shooting percentages lend to consistent ability to punish defenses, and her 98 threes on 39 percent while at Dodge City give the Sugar Bears a reliable threat from beyond the arc. She garnered NJCAA All-American honors while at Dodge City, and won a KJCCC Title as a freshman.
 
"Paris can flat out shoot the ball.  She comes to us from San Diego and Dodge City Community College, a school that we have enjoyed mining for talent over the last couple of years. Paris is very good in spread ball screen type offenses like ours, and can play at the point position or as a shooting guard. Her shot-making and versatility will have an immediate positive impact here in Conway." – Coach Kemper
 
Laylah Reese is a local product that saw time with current Sugar Bear Jenna Cook at Cabot High School. Most recently, Reese has been tearing it up at Three Rivers CC, where she played two seasons, averaging 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Her consistency on the court helped her lead her team to two NJCAA National Tournaments, reaching the final eight in both seasons.
 
"Laylah is a long, athletic combo forward from Cabot, AR and Three Rivers CC. I love her energy and her experience playing and winning at one of the premier junior college programs in the nation. Those experiences will help us establish our programs winning attitude. Laylah will log minutes at each forward spot and expect her to make an instant impact on the both ends of the floor as well as on the glass." – Coach Kemper
 
Julianna Gibson joins the Sugar Bears after three seasons at Saint Francis. There, she blossomed into a starting forward, averaging 5.1 points per game in two seasons of starting. As a junior, she improved her efficiency, shooting nearly 50 percent from the field on 128 attempts. She also finished second on the team averaging 4.9 rebounds a game, and over her three seasons, put together eight games of double-digit scoring and three games of double-digit rebounds.
 
"Julianna brings loads of D1 experience to our program.  During her years at St. Francis, she displayed a skilled post game both at the rim and as a decision maker away from the basket.  She will be relied upon to bring senior leadership and her personality gives us confidence that she will lift others around her.  It was important for our staff to find someone with her skillset so that we could expand our team's offensive system." – Coach Kemper
 
Linda Amaning transfers to Central Arkansas after a season at Saint Peters. During her lone season, she averaged 5.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, shooting 45 percent from the field and adding 29 steals and 12 blocks. She had a season-high 20 points against Niagara, shooting 9-for-13 from the field in a 12-point win. The 6-1 forward added season-bests of nine boards, three blocks and four steals over the course of the season, showcasing her versatility on the court.
 
"Linda plays very hard, that energy level jumps out at you when you watch her film. She will immediately impact the game on the offensive and defensive glass and her athleticism helps fill a need on both ends of the floor. I look for her to continue to develop her skills on the offensive game over the years that she will be in our program. She will be a very important piece next year and for years to come." – Coach Kemper
 
This signing class adds to a young group of Sugar Bears that will feature Stephens, along with junior guard Cheyanne Kemp and sophomore Jenna Cook, as Central Arkansas heads into year three of Coach Kemper's tenure as head coach.