SEARCY, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello Women’s Basketball Team traveled to Searcy, Arkansas to take on in-state, Great American Conference member Harding University on Saturday evening. The Blossoms took on the Lady Bisons, coming out with a 65-56 loss on the day.
Returning sophomore Bailey Harris led the way for Arkansas-Monticello (2-6, 0-3 GAC) with a season-high 23 points on the night, tying her career-high scoring performance. She went 9-17 on shots within two-point range, 4-7 on three-pointers, and 1-1 on shots from the line. She also contributed two rebounds, two assists, and two blocks in the match.
Newcomer Joi Montgomery posted 13 points of her own in the match. Montgomery went 4-10 on field goals, 1-2 from beyond-the-arc, and 4-4 on free throws with a team-leading eight rebounds, two assists, and a block.
Harding (7-3, 3-0 GAC) was led by Sage Hawley with 22 points.
The Blossoms were the first team to put points on the board in the first quarter when Bailey Harris hit her first three of the night. Harding would respond with a jumper of their own, eventually taking back a 6-4 lead over the Blossoms. The Lady Bisons would hold onto that lead for the remainder of the first ten minutes of the match. UAM came out 3-13 on field goals and 2-2 on threes. The two teams would head into the second quarter with Harding on top 12-8.
The second quarter was the highest scoring quarter of the game. The Blossoms would once out score the Lady Bisons in the second ten minutes 22 points to 16. UAM shot for only 53% of their field goals throughout the second quarter. Harding would only shoot for 47% in their second quarter performance. The teams would finish the half and head to the locker rooms with Arkansas-Monticello on top, 30-28.
The third quarter proved to go the Lady Bisons way as well as they would outscore the Blossoms, 22-9 in their highest scoring period of the entire game. Harding only shot for 36% of field goals, compared to Arkansas-Monticello’s 29% in the third ten minutes, but made 13 of 15 free throw attempts.
The fourth quarter was an action packed final 10 minutes in the conference match-up. Joi Montgomery would find two free throws nine seconds in to score the first point of the quarter. The Blossoms would fight throughout the final fourth of the game, outscoring Harding 17-15. Unfortunately UAM was only able to shorten the HU lead to seven points multiple times, eventually falling to the Lady Bisons, 65-56.
Arkansas-Monticello committed 16 turnovers in the entirety of the match.
UP NEXT
The Blossoms return to action at Steelman Field House on Tuesday, December 13 when they host Baptist Bible College. The match is set to begin at 3:00 p.m.
All live streams and live stats will be available as clickable links on the UAM Women’s basketball schedule.
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.
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