The University of Arkansas at Monticello 2023-24 Basketball seasons got underway this past weekend with the Blossoms traveling to Magnolia for two games in the GAC/MIAA Challenge and the Weevils traveling on the opposite direction to Kansas City, Missouri to participate in two games in the Central Region Challenge.
For the Weevils, the season tipped off on Friday, November 10, facing off with Winona State University.
UAM would get the first basket of the game on a jumper by Issac Jackson, last season's point leader for the Weevils.
Winona State would tie the contest with UAM’s Zane Nelson breaking the tie on a three for a 5-2 lead.
Winona would take the lead on a layup, 6-5, with UAM tying the contest at 10 a few minutes later on a jumper by Nelson.
Winona State would retake the lead and hold it to the end of the half, taking a 25-19 lead.
Winona State continued to hold the lead throughout the remainder of the contest taking the 62-46 win.
The Weevils were led on the scoreboard by Zane Nelson with 20 points and Issac Jackson with 18.
Returning on Saturday to face Minnesota State University-Mankato.
Mankato would take the lead early in the first half, outscoring UAM in the half by five points, 32-27.
UAM would cut the lead to one point, 42-41, with 10:27 remaining in the contest on a layup by Nelson.
It would be the closest margin the contest would be for the remainder of the game as Mankato would go on to a 12 point, 69-57 lead.
The Weevils would have three players in double-digits with Jackson scoring 17, Nelson with 12, and Josh Denton scoring 11.
The Weevils will be at home at Steelman Fieldhouse on Thursday, November 16, hosting Hendrix College with a 12 pm tip scheduled in the second “Billie Ball” game.
The Blossoms would begin their season on Friday, November 10, facing Lincoln University of Missouri.
The Blossoms would lead through the first half, taking the first quarter 13-12 and the second quarter 24-22 for a 37-34 halftime lead.
Lincoln would come back in the second half to take the lead, outscoring the Blossoms 18-16 in the third quarter and 25--17 in the fourth to take the 77-70 win.
The Blossoms saw three players score in double-digits with Alindsey Long leading the way with 19 points.
Bailey Harris and Haleigh Crews each scored 12.
The Blossoms returned to face Newman University on Saturday and would get their first win of the season.
The Blossoms would obtain the lead in the first quarter taking a six point, 18-12 lead.
The Blossoms continued to lead Newman in the second quarter, 21-13, to take a 39-25 point lead at the half.
The Blossoms continued to lead for the remainder of the contest, outscoring Newman 14-8 in the third and 16-15 in the fourth for the 69-48 win.
Bailey Harris led the Blossoms with 16 points followed by Haleigh Crews with 10.
The Blossoms opened their home schedule on November 14, hosting Crowleys Ridge at Steelman Fieldhouse.
The Blossoms would see four players reach double-digits in the contest.
Bailey Harris would get things started for the Blossoms with a layup with the Blossoms maintaining the lead throughout the quarter taking a 20-12 lead.
UAM continued to lead, building their lead to 22 points before taking the quarter 27-16 for a 47-28 lead at the half.
The Blossoms continued to lead throughout the second half with the third quarter being even in the quarter with 23 points each with the Blossoms holding onto a 70-59 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, the Blossoms would see their biggest lead of the contest at 26 points with 44 seconds remaining in the contest and would end the game with a 24 point, 85-61, win to improve to 2-1 on the season.
Four players in double-digits were Haleigh Crews with 19 points followed by Kelsey Blakemore with 17 points, Alindsey Long with 12 points, and Bailey Harris with 10 points.
