Blossoms Clinch Tourney Berth

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Blossoms Clinch Tourney Berth

Paul Smith
Sports Information Director

MEMPHIS, Tenn. --- After racing out to a 38-25 halftime lead, the University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (14-12, 8-7 GSC) struggled through the opening 18 minutes of the second half, falling behind by as many as seven before rallying to take a 68-65 victory over the Christian Brothers Lady Buccaneers Feb. 23 in Memphis.

   The win guarantees the Cotton Blossoms a berth in the Gulf South Conference tournament in Tupelo, Miss.

   The Lady Bucs started the game hot, taking a six-point (15-9) lead with 14:23 remaining in the half; but the Blossoms rallied with a 9-1 run to take a five-point (21-16) lead with 10:21 left. After a jumper by Erin Nigh pulled the Bucs to within one (21-20) with 8:59 left, UAM closed the half on a 17-5 run after holding the Lady Bucs scoreless for seven minutes to take a 13-point lead into the half.

   As the second half opened, the Lady Bucs chipped into the UAM lead, finally taking the lead themselves at the 12:47 mark as Crystal Shelton converted a pair of free throws. The two teams traded leads over the next four minutes, when Carley Wright gave the Lady Bucs a one-point lead (56-55) with 8:26 remaining.

   CBU extended their lead to as many as seven (64-57) with 4:16 remaining in the game, but the Blossoms were able to turn up the defensive pressure, holding the Lady Bucs scoreless over the final 2:39. The Blossoms claimed the lead (66-65) after a Gemma Gibson (So., Dodd City, Texas) jumper with 1:32 remaining, and Wendy Young (Sr., Chapmans, St. Vincent) hit an insurance jumper with 13 seconds remaining to ice the victory.

   Katrina Dean (Sr., Conway, Ark.) led UAM with 14 points. Young added 13 points in the victory.

   CBU’s Crystal Shelton led all scorers with 25 points.

   The Cotton Blossoms return to action Saturday, Feb. 25, as they celebrate senior night against Ouachita Baptist. A 4 p.m. tip-off is scheduled.

Blossoms Snap Seven-Year Skid Against UCA

Young scored 25 points to lead the Cotton Blossoms to a 71-66 win over the University of Central Arkansas Sugar Bears Feb. 20 at Steelman Fieldhouse.

   The win is UAM's first win over Central Arkansas since the 1998-99 season, snapping a 14-game losing streak.

   The two teams swapped leads several times through the first half, with UCA taking a six-point lead (22-16), their biggest of the half, on a Brittany Greer jumper with 6:14 remaining. UAM came back to tie the game at 28-28 with 38 seconds remaining in the half after a jumper by Sherelle Shipp (Jr., Wilmar, Ark.), but the Sugar Bears reclaimed the lead with 21 seconds remaining after another jumper by Greer.

   The Cotton Blossoms took control in the second half, pushing ahead by 10 (52-42) with 8:29 remaining after a free throw by Abra Motley (Sr., Muskegon, Mich.), and while the Sugar Bears would pull to within two (58-56) with 3:36 remaining, the Cotton Blossoms were able to hold Central Arkansas at arm’s length the remainder of the way to seal the victory.

   Young’s 25 points led all scorers. Jenna Thomas (Sr., Shreveport, La.) added 13 points and Dean added 11 points. UCA was led by Caronica Randle and Greer, who both scored 13 points apiece.

UAM was out-rebounded 50-36, but shot 41.9 percent from the floor for the game while forcing 14 Sugar Bear turnovers.

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