The University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms earned their second win of the 2022-23 season with a 57-50 victory over Arkansas Baptist College Lady Buffs on Tuesday, November 22, at Steelman Fieldhouse.
Bailey Harris would get the first points of the contest to give the Blossoms a three-point lead, connecting on a three-pointer at the 8:54 mark of the first quarter.
Taylor East would extend the Blossom lead to five points with 6:02 remaining in the quarter on two successful free throw attempts to make the score 7-2.
The Lady Buffs would get as close as one point to the Blossoms in the quarter with UAM’s Laia Balcells connecting on a free throw for the final points of the quarter to give UAM a 12-9 lead.
Nyah Banks would lead off the scoring in the second quarter on a three-pointer, extending the lead to six points, 15-9.
The Blossoms would gain their biggest lead of the quarter of eight points on two different occasions in the quarter.
Joi Montgomery connected on a layup with 6:32 remaining in the half for the lead of eight points before the Lady Buffs began chipping away at the Blossom lead.
Arkansas Baptist would tie the contest at 21 with 2:16 remaining in the half and the schools would go back and forth on the scoreboard with Arkansas Baptist taking a two-point, 25-23 lead at the break.
Arkansas Baptist would continue to lead for the majority of the third quarter.
UAM's Alindsey Long would tie the contest at 35 with 1:57 remaining in the quarter and Joi Montgomery would tie the contest at 36 a few seconds later.
The Blossoms close the quarter scoring four pints for a 40-36 lead heading into the fourth.
Arkansas Baptist would cut the Blossom lead to one point, 48-47 with 2:08 remaining in the contest but was never able to overtake the Blossoms as UAM went on to score the 57-50 victory.
Bailey Harris led the way for the Blossoms with 14 points followed by Joi Montgomery and Alindsey Long with 12. Nyah Banks scored five, Cyarah Kensmil and Aeryn Hawkins with four, with Taylor East, Laia Balcells, and Alexys Grice rounded out the scoring with two each.
The Blossoms would lose their next contest on Saturday to UA-Fort Smith 69-58 to fall to 2-3 on the season.
UAM begins conference play against Arkansas Tech on the road on Thursday.
