The University of the Ozarks women's basketball team will have several new faces on its roster, including a new head coach, entering the 2018-2019 season. River Valley coaching icon Carl Ramsey retired at the end of last season. Former assistant coach Kourtni Williams will take over the program. Guards Hailey Ostrander and Kate Smith return for their senior seasons. Ostrander was named All-Conference after finishing thirteenth in the league in scoring (13.0) and tenth in three-point percentage (33.3%). She also averaged 1.3 steals, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Smith averaged 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Sophomore forward Cassie Emerson averaged 9.0 points and 3.7 rebounds en route to earning a spot on the conference All-Freshman Team. Senior forward Diamond Goodwyn is back after averaging 12.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Kamryn McKinney played in all 25 games last season and scored 6.4 points per game. The Eagles will also benefit from the return of Delanei Stephens, who missed all of last season. Stephens was named to the conference All-Freshman Team two years ago after finishing seventh in the league in rebounding (7.5) and averaging 10.4 points per game. "Right now our work ethic is definitely our main strength," said Williams. "Effort isn't something I have to worry about with this group. And, we have multiple players that have range and can shoot the ball. Even some of our inside players can step out and knock it down. I also think depth is another strength of the team. We have several players that have an opportunity to contribute. We have a lot of experience at the guard spot." The Eagles are coming off a tough year, winning just four games, but the team is focused on making changes to improve. "Last year we turned the ball over too much. A point of emphasis this season is taking care of the basketball and reducing turnovers."
Returning Starters: Hailey Ostrander (5-6, Sr., Guard), Diamond Goodwyn (5-11, Sr., Forward), Savannah Kate Smith (5-7, Sr., Guard), Delanei Stephens(5-10, Jr., Forward, returning from 2016-17 season)
Key Players Off The Bench From 2017-18 (returning): Cassie Emerson (Forward), Kamryn McKinney (Guard)
Newcomers: Angela Wyatt (Fr., 5-8, Guard), Kerigan Bradshaw 5-6, Fr., Guard), Hannah Weatherford (5-10, Fr., Guard/Forward), Shakira Neal (5-5, Jr., Guard), Kelsey Dixson (6-0, Fr., Center), Zhajani Wright (5-9, Fr., Guard/Forward), Brittney Sain (5-7, Fr., Guard), Abby Helmke (5-11, So., Forward), Taylor McFarland (6-0, Fr., Forward), Janna Rhinehart (5-5, Fr., Guard)
Top Returning Scorer: Hailey Ostrander (13.0)
Top Returning Assist Leader: Savannah Kate Smith (2.8)
Top Returning Rebound Leader: Diamond Goodwyn (7.0)
Team Field Goal Percentage: 38.2%
Team Opponent Field Goal Percentage: 40.7%
Team Scoring Per Game: 61.8
All-Conference Players Returning: Hailey Ostrander (Second Team), Cassie Emerson (All-Freshman Team)
2017-18 Record (ASC): 4-21 (2-16 ASC)
2017-18 Conference Finish: Seventh (East Division)
Coach Williams Quote
"My expectations of the team are to play hard and improve each day. And, hopefully that will put us in a position to earn a spot in the conference tournament. We definitely want to be defensive-minded. We want to force opponents to take bad shots and we want to guard in the half court."
2018-2019 Schedule
November
10 at Philander Smith
13 vs Hendrix
15 at Rhodes
17 vs^Fontbonne
18 vs ^Bluffton
27 at Hendrix College
December
1 at Texas-Tyler
3 vs *McMurry
5 vs *Hardin-Simmons
15 at *Mary Hardin-Baylor
17 at *Concordia University Texas
January
3 vs *Howard Payne
5 vs *Sul Ross State
10 at *Belhaven
12 at *Louisiana College
15 at Dallas Christian
19 vs *Texas-Dallas
21 vs Texas-Tyler
24 vs *LeTourneau
26 vs *East Texas Baptist
31 at *East Texas Baptist
February
2 at *LeTourneau
7 at *Texas-Dallas
14 vs *Louisiana College
16 vs *Belhaven
21-23 at American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament
*American Southwest Conference game
^Rhodes College Tip-Off Classic