CONWAY, Ark. – Basketball season is upon us! The 2026-27 basketball season opens Monday, November 2^nd at 5 p.m. The Sugar Bears open the season against Hendrix, facing the in-town foe on opening night of the year.
 
The Sugar Bears open the year after closing the 2025-26 campaign with 21 wins for the third-straight year, and reached the ASUN Championship Semifinal, also for the third-straight year. Several players from last season's team are back, including Preseason All-UAC guard Cheyanne Kemp. Kemp was a Second Team All-ASUN player last season, putting up 13.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. The senior guard also added 48 three-pointers, 53 assists, 30 steals and 12 blocks to her line last year. Additionally, the Sugar Bears return key pieces from last year's team in Jenna Cook, Laylah Reese, Linda Amaning and Paris Santacaterina, all of whom put up numbers for the Sugar Bears a season ago.
 
Central Arkansas also added six new players to the mix, with three freshmen and three transfers. Joining Central Arkansas with college experience already are Preseason All-UAC forward Tiani Ellison, Tulsa transfer Layla-J Cameron, and Arkansas Tech transfer Logan Young. The freshmen, Avery Mier, Sami Shaeffer and Faith McCallop, add exciting young prospects to the roster as well.
 
The Hendrix game has become an every-year type game over the last decade-plus. And while Central Arkansas consistently wins, it serves as an excellent opportunity to see different lineups and mixes and matches as the season begins anew. Last season, the Sugar Bears played 14 players against the Warriors, including returning sophomores Alivia Cox, Alexis Cox and Emerie Bohanon, all of whom played high school ball together at Conway High.
 
Hendrix takes the court after a 17-10 record last season, with a SCAC Blue Division Regular Season Co-Championship under its belt. Headlining the roster again this season is forward Riley Brady, who averaged 17.4 points and 18.4 rebounds per game. The senior forward, who also plays volleyball in the fall, put up ridiculous numbers a season ago, including a season-high 38 points against Centenary, and a season-best 31 rebounds against Ozarks.
 
Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. Monday evening, the first half of a double-header with the men's basketball team for opening day. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, with live stats available online.