The University of Arkansas at Monticello Blossoms picked up their second Great American Conference victory on Thursday, January 25, at Steelman Fieldhouse with a 72-63 victory over the Southern Arkansas University Lady Muleriders.
The Blossoms came into Thursday’s contest having lost two consecutive contests but began Thursday’s conference game fast from the opening tip.
Alindsey Long would get the Blossoms on the board to begin the contest with a three pointer in the first ten seconds of the game.
Southern Arkansas would get the next basket but Long would answer with her second three of the game to extend the lead to 6-2.
Haleigh Crews added a pair of free throws with Bailey Harris connecting on a layup to extend the Blossoms lead to 10-2.
After a pair of free throws by SAU, Kelsey Blakemore would add a pair of layups to extend the Blossom lead to double-digits.
Long would keep the lead in double-digits at the end of the first quarter on her third three of the quarter with seven seconds remaining to give the Blossoms an 11 point, 21-10, lead.
Alyssia Thorne would extend the Blossom lead to 13 points to begin the second quarter.
SAU would cut the lead to seven points with 2:56 remaining in the half.
Consecutive layups by Harris put the Blossoms back up 11 points, 29-18, with 1:31 on the clock.
After a three by SAU’s Addy Tremie cut the lead to eight, Bailey Harris would connect on two free throws before Haleigh Crews got three points the old fashion way, connecting on a layup and drawing the foul to shoot a successful free throw for the three point play to give the Blossoms a 13 point, 34-21, lead at the halftime break.
SAU would return from the half to go on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to seven points, but Long would connect on her fourth three pointer of the contest to push the lead back to 10 points.
Bailey Harris would give the Blossoms an 18 point lead with 4:34 remaining in the third quarter.
SAU would cut into the lead, reducing the lead to single-digits before Harris connected on a jumper to maintain a 10 point lead at the end of the third quarter, 54-44.
Azaria Hulbert would score on a three pointer to begin the fourth quarter to give the Blossoms a 13 point lead and the Blossoms would push the lead to 15, the largest of the quarter for the Blossoms, on a jumper by Kelsey Blakemore.
SAU would cut into the Blossom lead, cutting the lead to two points, 61-59, with 3:09 remaining in the contest.
The Blossoms would add to their lead, closing the contest with a nine point victory, 72-63.
Leading the way for UAM was Bailey Harris with 26 points followed by Alindsey Long and Kelsey Blakemore with 12 points each.
Azaria Hulbert added nine points, Haleigh Crews with seven, Alyssia Thorne with four, and Nicole Weaver rounding out the scoring with two points.
UAm would travel to Russellville on Saturday for a GAC contest with Arkansas tech’s Golden Suns.
Tech would outscore the Blossoms in all four quarters to take a 52 point, 94-42, victory.
Bailey Harris led the way with 12 points, Alyssia Thorne with nine, Kelsey Blakemore with eight, Nicole Weaver and Haleigh Crews with four, Azaria Hulbert with three, and Ali Jo Cruce with two.
UAM will travel to Oklahoma for a pair of contests with Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Northwestern Oklahoma State University this week.
