UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Battle Ready to Provide Proper Finish to Season

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – With less than three seconds left the shot went up, clanged off the boards and brought to an end a most unusual season in recent memory for Trojan fans. Little Rock would not advance to a conference tournament semifinal that would not even take place.
 
The work to fix that single season blip began the next day, but it would not be a traditional route. That next day was when the sports world ground to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Teal Battle had the seven-hour drive back to Little Rock to reflect upon the heartbreaking loss and how to guide the team back to normalcy in her senior year.
 
"I know we could have won that game," Battle said in reflection upon the final game from last season. "Louisiana just played the better game. And while I think the season could have been better, all we can do now is learn from our previous mistakes and get back to work as a team."
 
That return to work as a team would have to come in a socially distant manner. As the team returned to campus, on-campus instruction was quickly shifted online and the team quickly disbanded to their respective hometowns, away from the top-rated facilities on the Little Rock campus.
 
As the student-athletes departed campus, Little Rock Director of Athletic Performance John Barron quickly got to the task at hand, assigning "homework." Every member of the team has their home workout plans from Barron in order to stay in shape and build upon their strength.
 
Normally seniors use their final year of eligibility as motivation to perform at their peak. It is their last chance to compete on the national stage representing Little Rock's Team. But for Battle it is the future, not her career's finality, that has her motivated to return the Trojans to their rightful place atop the Sun Belt standings.
 
She is the influence of a pair of Trojan underclassmen to provide extra motivation to keep working towards progress.
 
"Honestly, Angelique Francis has been part of my motivation to work out," Battle explained. "She has been my workout partner. When we are on the field or the court, she is pushing me to perform better and to do it right every time. I want to try and make this year for her and the rest of the girls as memorable as possible."
 
The other end of Battle's motivation comes from another rising sophomore, Nicole Hemphill. Seeing expanded playing minutes as the season progressed, Hemphill was a key contributor until a season-ending knee injury cut short her freshman campaign at Troy on Feb. 20.
 
"She [Nicole] got hurt toward the end of the season and since her surgery, she's been pushing and working her butt off to get back with us," Battle said. "I just think it is amazing how far she has come in such little time."
 
Working with Francis, both in-person and from afar, and watching Hemphill push towards recovery has been easy with the advent of technology. Text messages, social media communication and Zoom and other video conferencing calls have kept the team close together despite being spread afar.
 
"It actually hasn't been as difficult as I thought," Battle said of the team's unity during the pandemic. "On our Zoom calls we have team bonding activities and are discussing ideas for what to do for next season. We also have come up with ways to help motivate each other and things we can work on individually and then share them amongst the group."
 
Battle now enters her senior season with a goal of returning to Little Rock's rightful place – playing deep into March. She is striving, along with her teammates, to make sure last season was just an aberration. That shot that ended in a clang left the Trojans with Unfinished Business last season, something the team is ready to tackle in 2020-21.
 
Appropriately, "Unfinished Business" is the theme for both the Little Rock men's and women's basketball programs as the 2020-21 season draws near. The Trojan men will be looking to finish what it started in 2019-20, while the Trojan women will be seeking to return to top of the Sun Belt standings after a disappointing campaign.
 
Little Rock's season ticket campaign for the 2020-21 season will focus on this Unfinished Business mentality. Trojan fans are now welcome to renew their season tickets and affordable price points continue to be available for season tickets at the Jack Stephens Center. Season ticket packages include all men's and women's home games. University of Arkansas Little Rock employees will receive a 30 percent discount on selected sections and university employees have the option of payroll deduction.
 
Trojan fans also have the opportunity this year to begin paying for their season tickets early, on a three- or six-month payment plan. To renew your tickets for the upcoming season, please contact the Trojan Ticket Office at 501-565-8257.
 
For the latest information on Little Rock Basketball, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockWBB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
#LittleRocksTeam