CONWAY, Ark. – With basketball season on the horizon, the United Athletic Conference releases its first Preseason All-UAC Team for women's basketball, and the Sugar Bears had a pair of players added to the team. Senior guard Cheyanne Kemp and redshirt junior forward Tiani Ellison were selected by the league's coaches to represent the Sugar Bears on the team.
 
Kemp, who enters her fourth season with the Sugar Bears, earned the selection after being named a Second Team All-ASUN player a season ago. She grew into her starting role, developing into one of the premier scoring guards in the ASUN. She ranked 12th in the ASUN in overall scoring at 13.3 points per game, second in field goals made with 156 shots on the year, and had the second-most threes among players with 150 field goals. Her 46 three-pointers were tied for seventh in the ASUN, and she added 5.0 rebounds per game, including 1.6 offensive rebounds per game.
 
"Cheyanne is coming off a really good junior year where we experienced her really elevating her game.  She impacted us both offensively and defensively and I know she is motivated to have an even better year this season." - Head coach Tony Kemper
 
Ellison, a transfer from East Texas A&M, earned her spot after being named a Second Team All-Southland forward. She averaged 15.0 points per game on the year, which was third in the conference. She also averaged 6.8 rebounds per game, good for fifth in the Southland. Her numbers only improved in conference play, where the 6'1 forward averaged 16.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
 
"We are really excited to have Tiani in our program. She has a presence about her that projects confidence into our whole team. She will be relied on to make our post play a position of strength in 2026-27, and we believe with her experience and talent, she'll make that happen." - Coach Kemper
 
In addition to the two honorees, the Sugar Bears were also selected third by the UAC's coaches in the preseason coaches' poll. Central Arkansas is only behind Abilene Christian, who finished last season with 24 wins, and EKU, who ended the 2025-26 season with 25.
 
"We are excited about competing for the first time in the United Athletic Conference. Our program wants to compete for championships and we understand the challenge that this will be in our new league. I think our group has the right make-up to be in the mix, we are ready to get started." – Coach Kemper