How do you like us now? This is precisely what both of the University of Arkansas Monticello basketball teams are saying after three huge wins this week. Both the Cotton Blossoms and the Boll Weevils dominated all of their opponents this week.

   The Cotton Blossoms started off the week against the Mustangs of Central Baptist College on Monday night. The Cotton Blossoms easily handled the Lady Mustangs. The first half sped by as there were very few fouls.

   The top scorers in the first half were Wendy Young for the Cotton Blossoms and Chenell Tucker of the Lady Mustangs. The score at the half was Cotton Blossoms 51 and the Lady Mustangs 26.

   Stephanie Boggans really came alive for the Cotton Blossoms in the second half as she went 6-15 from the field and 3-8 from three to aid the Blossoms on their way to a victory over the Central Baptist Lady Mustangs by the final score of 88-61.

   On Thursday night, both the Cotton Blossoms and the Boll Weevils traveled to Magnolia to take on the Muleriders of Southern Arkansas University. The Boll Weevils were coming off of a heartbreaking loss to the No. 9 Delta State University Statesmen. The Cotton Blossoms were still riding their wave of confidence and enthusiasm form their dominant victory over Central Baptist.

   In the first game, the Cotton Blossoms took on the Lady Muleriders. While the Blossoms were riding that victory wave from Monday night, there was one staggering fact staring the Blossoms in the eye -- Coach Bob Boldon had never defeated the SAU Lady Muleriders in his previous three meetings. However, that was all to end on Thursday night at the Watson Athletic Center.

   The officials dominated the first half along with an endless strand of touchy fouls assessed to both teams, but the Cotton Blossoms set the tone early. This game was going to closely resemble the game on Monday night. Young led the Cotton Blossoms in the first half with 13 points as the Blossoms went into the locker room with a nine point lead.

   Young went down early in the second half as she banged her knee on the floor in the opening minutes of play. She was down, but she was not out for long. Young finished the night with 26 points and six rebounds. Guard Theresa Tran finished the game as she fouled out with 2:34 remaining with four points, six rebounds and three steals.

   The Cotton Blossoms ended the game and Coach Boldon's winless streak against SAU as they defeated the Lady Muleriders by the final score of 74-55.

   The Boll Weevils tipped off against the Muleriders in the second game under the very enthusiastic Coach Mike Newell. The Boll Weevils entered the contest with the knowledge that they need every victory they can get in order to have a chance to receive a bid into the NCAA Division II tournament.

   The first half of play was dominated by the Weevils as they jumped out to an early and commanding lead over the Muleriders. With 4:05 remaining in the first half, Derek Easter silenced the Watson Athletic Center with a power dunk over two opposing Mulerider defenders. This gave the Weevils the momentum as they went into the locker room with a 47-34 lead.

   The second half was a continuance of the first half as the Weevils seemed to be in autopilot. Riding on the back of preseason All-American Bill McDaniel, the Weevils sailed to victory. McDaniel led all players with a double-double scoring 34 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. McDaniel also went 6-6 from beyond the three point line. Those 34 points tied McDaniel’s career high.

   The other top scorers for the Boll Weevils were Brandon Mayweather with 14 points, MJumbe Williams with 13 points and Nate Newell with 15 points. The Boll Weevils rolled over the SAU Muleriders by the final score of 87-69.

   Next week, the Cotton Blossoms and Boll Weevils play at Steelman Field House against Central Arkansas on Monday night. Thursday night both teams travel to Memphis, Tenn., to face off against Christian Brothers University.

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