The University of the Ozarks women's basketball team is hungry to return to the post-season after just missing the playoffs in 2016-17. Veteran coach Carl Ramsey returns two starters and has added plenty of talent with the incoming freshman class. The Eagles will likely be more guard oriented than in the past. Junior point guard Hailey Ostrander returns after averaging 11.0 points and hitting 42 three-pointers. Senior guard Anisha Johnson is the team's other returning starter. She averaged over five points, three rebounds and two assists per game. The inside presence of junior Diamond Goodwyn will be key. Goodwyn, 5-foot-11, averaged 7.1 rebounds last season and also scored nine points per game. Savannah Kate Smith is another player Ramsey is expecting to contribute. Smith, a guard, transferred in at semester last season and sparked the Eagles with 6.5 points per game.

 
Returning Starters: Hailey Ostrander (junior guard), Anisha Johnson (senior guard)

Key Players Off The Bench From 2016-17: Diamond Goodwyn (forward), Savannah Kate Smith (guard)

Newcomers: Kamryn McKinney (guard), Kylie Devries (guard), Samantha Childers (guard), Destinee Manning (guard), Cassie Emerson (forward)

Top Returning  Scorer: Hailey Ostrander (11.0)

Top Returning Assist Leader: Savannah Kate Smith (2.9)

Top Returning Rebound Leader: Diamond Goodwyn (7.1)

Team Field Goal Percentage: 39.5%

Team Opponent Field Goal Percentage: 37.9%

Team Scoring Per Game: 66.6

All-Conference Players Returning: None

2016-17 Record (ASC): 10-15 (5-11 ASC)

2016-17 Conference Finish: Fifth

Coach Ramsey Quotes:
"Everyone has been working hard. Hailey and Anisha are our two returning starters and they have provided a lot of leadership for us. We lack experience, but I think we have some good depth. And I think one of the team strengths is our speed and quickness. We want to push the ball up the floor more with all of our guards. We will try to create some turnovers to get easy buckets. I think defensively, we will need to do things by committee. Guards may have to help in the post and our guards will put some pressure on the back court. Diamond will have to be a key part of anchoring the inside for us."

2017-2018 Media Guide Link


2017-2018 Schedule
November
15 Hendrix College
18 Rhodes College
21 @ Bacone College
30 @ University of Dallas

December
2 *University of Texas-Tyler
5 @ *McMurry University
14 *University Mary Hardin-Baylor
17 *Concordia University Texas
30 @ Rhodes College

January
4 @ *Sul Ross State University
6 @ *Howard Payne University
11 *Belhaven University
13 *Louisiana College
17 Arlington Baptist College
20 @ *Texas Dallas
22 @ *Hardin-Simmons University
25 @ *LeTourneau University
27 @ *East Texas Baptist University
29 Bacone College

February
1 *East Texas Baptist University
3 *LeTourneau University
5 @ *University of Texas-Tyler
8 *Texas Dallas (Senior Day)
15 @ *Louisiana College
17 @ *Belhaven University
22-24 American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament

*American Southwest Conference game