The University of Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms (5-13, 1-4) could not fend off the Golden Suns (12-5, 5-0) of Arkansas Tech at Steelman Fieldhouse, losing to the unbeaten conference Suns 80-58 Saturday.

   The Cotton Blossoms took an early six-point lead after Addie Lees, junior transfer from Plainview, Texas, hit a three-pointer from the corner. Lees scored 13 on the night. The Suns used superior shooting to come back. The Cotton Blossoms, down by seven, caught a break in the way of a technical foul with 7:05 remaining in the first period. Gemma Gibson, junior from Dodd City, Texas, hit two free-throws to cut the lead to five (29-24). Gibson led the Cotton Blossoms scores with 15, shooting 8-10 from the charity stripe.

   After the technical foul, the Suns went on a 13-point run. With 1:01 left in the half, Almeli da Silva senior from Brazil, hit a jumper to end the Suns run but was quickly answered with a three-pointer by a fellow Brazilian on the Suns squad, Daiane Domingos. Domingos led all scorers with 22 points, going 4-5 from behind the arch. After a UAM timeout, Shakia (Shak) Sanders, junior from Chester, S.C., hit a three-point basket, cutting the lead to 16 ending the half 45-29 in favor of Tech.

   To begin the second half, Ashley Grappe of Tech hit a lay-up only to be answered by a Lees jumper. The Suns hit three consecutive three pointers as well as two free throws, stretching the lead to 27.

   The Cotton Blossoms, looking for some help, gained some from Lees with 6:12 remaining. Lees took advantage of a Tech turnover by making a lay-up and drawing a foul. She completed a three-point play with a free-throw. Over the next five minutes, the Cotton Blossoms chopped away the lead, cutting what was once a 32-point deficit down to a 15 with 0:56 remaining in the game.

   Tech ended the game on what many claimed to be a sour note. The Suns' Amanda Grappe, up by 19 and the game clearly over, fired a three-pointer at the buzzer that went in and gave Tech a 22-point spread and the win.

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