Blossoms Win Opener

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MONTEVALLO, Ala. --- Gemma Gibson (Jr., Dodd City, Texas) scored a career-high 18 points to lead the University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (1-0) to a season-opening win over the Montevallo Lady Falcons on Friday night on day one of the UM Coca-Cola Classic in Montevallo, Alabama.

   Shenai Limbrick (Sr., Houston, Texas) scored six points in the opening minute of the game to give UAM an early 6-0 lead. The Blossoms would extend their lead to as many as nine (11-2) just under three minutes into the game after a Sherelle Shipp (Sr., Wilmar) layup, but the Lady Falcons charged back, taking a lead on a Veronica Jackson layup with 7:44 remaining in the opening half.

   A pair of Gibson free throws twenty seconds later would give the Blossoms the lead once again, and UAM would extend their lead to as many as eight before Montevallo narrowed the gap to three (38-35) at halftime.

   Holding a three-point lead (54-51) with 13:26 remaining in the second half, UAM went on a 12-1 run to push their lead to 14 (66-52) with 7:52 remaining.

   Montevallo was not done, however, as the Lady Falcons went on an 16-4 run to pull to within 70-68 with 1:35 remaining, but the Blossoms’ defense was able to stop the Montevallo offense down the stretch, and Gibson added a pair of crucial free throws with 14 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

   Gibson’s 18 points tied UM’s Trellice Moore to lead all scorers. Limbrick added 12 points and 10 rebounds, and April Eason (Jr., Memphis, Tenn.) added 10 points in the victory.

   The Blossoms return to action on Saturday, facing West Georgia on day two of the UM Coca-Cola Classic. Tipoff from Montevallo, Ala., is set for 2 p.m.

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