As Carley Hudspeth, UCA’s women’s basketball senior guard, prepares for her fourth and final season as a Sugar Bear, she revels in her experience at UCA and the opportunity she was afforded as a student-athlete.
“Since I was an incoming freshman, I had this goal in mind: Whenever it is my senior night, I want to be able to look back — at every practice, every game, every day over the past four years — and honestly say that I always gave it my all,” Hudspeth said. “I will forever be grateful to Coach Rushing and to UCA for the opportunity to play D1 basketball. I have truly loved being at UCA, and I can’t believe my time here is starting to wind down. Glory to God for being my sustainer and strength for every up and down, every setback and breakthrough.”
From a young age, Hudspeth knew she wanted to be a student-athlete.
“I really wanted to experience being a college student-athlete, and I am so thankful for the platform it gives me to share my faith in God with those around me. Everything I do, I do for the glory of God. Whenever things get hard, I remember that this is where I once dreamed of being,” Hudspeth said. “Something Coach Rushing told me a few years ago has stuck with me. She said ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’ Growth takes time. Don’t stop working, don’t give up. Keep the faith.”
Hudspeth comes from a family of athletes. Both her father, Mark Hudspeth, and her mother, Amy Denley, were collegiate athletes at Delta State University. Her mother played basketball and her father played football for Delta State.
“Having a family of athletes has definitely had an impact on me. I think when your family loves sports, the love of sports gets ingrained into you as you grow up,” Hudspeth said.
Not only was Denley a well-decorated player, as a member of the Gulf South Conference Hall of Fame and a three-time national champion at Delta State, she was also a coach to Hudspeth growing up.
“My mom and I have had such a cool relationship over the years, as she was my basketball coach throughout junior high and high school. And now she is getting to watch me play in college,” Hudspeth said.
Although Hudspeth also had an offer to her parents’ alma mater, she chose to come to UCA.
“UCA felt like home from the minute I came on my recruiting visit. I loved the idea of blazing my own trail and creating my own path,” Hudspeth said. “As an incoming freshman, I knew no one here and had never been to Conway before. And, now, as a senior about to graduate, I have been blessed to have formed such a special community over the years here in Conway, and I have made friends that I will keep for the rest of my life.”
To conclude her final season, Hudspeth plans to make her last weeks as a Sugar Bear count.
“My personal goal is to be what the team needs me to be… Big focuses of mine lately have been having the best attitude I can possibly have, both in games and in practice. I know my time left in the Sugar Bear uniform is counting down, and I want to enjoy it and make the most of it. As a team, I want to win a championship,” Hudspeth said.
Hudspeth believes the team has grown together and has faith that their season will end on a high note.
“Being a part of a team, I know that victories are not explicitly measured by the win-loss tally. As a team, we have come so incredibly far from when we all started playing together in August…There is still so much more basketball to be played, and I have full faith in this team to finish strong,” Hudspeth said.
The team recently came back from Florida with one win against North Florida Jan. 27 and one loss against Jacksonville Jan. 29.
The Sugar Bears will take on Florida Gulf Coast next at the Farris Center Feb. 3. They have eight conference games left and are currently 3-5 in conference play.