MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello Women’s Basketball hosted rival and Great American Conference member Southern Arkansas University on Monday night. The Blossoms came out of their seventeenth contest of the year with a 76-63 loss to the Muleriders.
Returning sophomore Bailey Harris led the way for Arkansas-Monticello (7-10, 4-7 GAC) with a high scoring 23 point performance on the night. She shot for 10-16 on field goals, hitting two of four three pointers throughout the match and one free throw. She had three defensive rebounds contributed on top of a steal in the match.
Nyah Banks posted 10 points of her own. She went 4-4 on field goals, 2-2 on free throws and racked up 5 rebounds, 3 offensive and 2 defensive.
Joi Montgomery posted 9 points of her own in the match. She went 4-9 on field goals, 1-3 on shots from beyond-the-arc and 0-1 from the free throw line. What she lacked in points she made up for in rebounds for the Blossoms, racking up an impressive 12 rebounds on the day.
Southern Arkansas (8-9, 4-7 GAC) was led by Diamond Morris with a 22 point, 8 steal performance.
Arkansas-Monticello was the first team on the board with layup from Azaria Hulbert. The Blossoms would start the game claiming the first two buckets, however the Muleriders responded shortly after with a layup of their own. The two teams fought it out till the final seconds of the quarter when a layup from Cyarah Kensmil would give UAM the lead. UAM would finish out the quarter going 10-22 on field goals and 16 rebounds. The two teams would head into the second quarter with Arkansas-Monticello on top 21-20.
The second quarter kicked off with the Blossoms scoring first with a Montgomery three pointer (24-20 UAM). The Blossoms would keep their foot on the gas as they held on to their lead for the remainder of the quarter. Arkansas-Monticello owned the quarter as they went 6-11 on field goals and 5-6 on free throws. It wouldn’t stop there, as UAM would out-rebound SAU as well nine to four. The teams would head to the locker rooms with the UAM in the lead, 39-28.
The third quarter started with a solid hook shot for Kensmil of UAM. SAU would go on a 15-0 run to put them up 45-41 with 6:19 to go. The Blossoms didn’t take this sitting down as they would duke it out the remainder of the quarter. Harris would shoot a needed three with 0:24 remaining to put UAM up 53-51. The Muleriders would drive back down and hit a final second jumper to tie it up 53 a piece headed into the fourth. SAU would go 9-15 on field goals, compared to Arkansas-Monticello’s 5-10. The Blossoms out rebounded Southern Arkansas 11 to 5.
The final quarter of the game was a hard fought one for the Blossoms. The Muleriders would jump out to an early lead and keep it for the remainder of the quarter. Arkansas-Monticello would do what they could, but unfortunately could not reclaim the lead. SAU would outscore UAM 23-8 in the quarter, with Southern Arkansas eventually coming out on top, 76-63.
Arkansas-Monticello committed 30 turnovers in the entirety of the match.
UP NEXT
The Blossoms return to action on Thursday, January 26 when they head to Bethany, OK to take on Great American Conference foe Southern Nazarene University. The match is set to tip-off at 5:30 p.m.
All live streams and live stats will be available as clickable links on the UAM Women’s basketball schedule.
UAM would like to give a thank you to today’s game day sponsors, Akin Furniture and Grand Manor. Thank you for your continued support of UAM Athletics!
How to follow the Blossoms: For more information on Arkansas-Monticello Women’s Basketball, visit www.uamsports.com and follow the team’s social media channels on Twitter and Instagram.
Check out the home schedule below for the next opportunity to catch the Blossoms at Steelman Field House! STUDENTS! Be sure to come out to the remaining home games of the 2022-23 basketball season and enter for your chance to win $10,000 in the Union Bank Half-Court Challenge. The winner will be selected for a chance to shoot a $10K half-court shot at the final home game of the season.
Because the $400 three-pointer was missed at tonight’s game, a student will have the opportunity at next Thursday’s UAM-000 match-up to shoot a three-pointer for $500. Be sure to show your support and enter for your chance to win!
For official rules and regulations, please click here: https://www.uamsports.com/news/2022/11/21/mens-basketball-the-10-000-union-bank-half-court-challenge-returns-for-the-2022-23-basketball-season.aspx
#GoBlossoms | #BlossomNation
