ARKADELPHIA, Arkansas – Arkansas-Monticello won its fifth straight game Friday afternoon in the Ouachita Baptist Classic, defeating Montevallo in a close game that saw 11 lead changes. Final score of the game was 73-69.

Four Cotton Blossoms finished the game in double-digit scoring, while junior Andrea Dubose (Newton, Miss.) recorded her first double-double of the season of 15 points and 11 rebounds (eight defensive). In this five-game winning streak, Dubose has scored at least 10 points in each game. Dubose was also the most productive defensive player by the numbers with eight steals.

Dubose, however, was not the leading scorer for the Cotton Blossoms. Junior Kristi Martin (Bay Springs, Miss.), after a scoreless first half, found her groove and scored 17 points in the second half. She finished the game 7-of-15 from the field and 3-for-7 behind the three-point line.

Montevallo held a 69-64 lead with close to three minutes left in the game, when UAM used an 8-0 run that included two free-throws from senior Gemma Gibson (Dodd City, Texas), a lay-up and a jumper from freshman Erika Brown (Shreveport, La.), and a fast-break lay-up by Martin.

Brown pulled down a rebound off a three-point shot from Montevallo that would have tied the game. Montevallo was then forced to foul, which sent Gibson to the free-throw line. Gibson made one free throw and finalized the scoring for the game and improved UAM to 5-2 overall this season.

The first half score was tied six times and saw five lead changes. Neither team had a lead greater than five points. UAM took the lead late in the first half and stuck to it, when Andrea Dubose hit three three-pointers starting at the 5:50 mark. Her first trey gave UAM a three-point lead at 29-26. Montevallo then re-took the lead, but Dubose struck again less than a minute later to give UAM a 32-30 lead.

Montevallo then tied the game at 32 all, but that was the last time UAM allowed that to happen. With 35 seconds remaining, Dubose hit her final three of the half to give the Cotton Blossoms a 40-38 lead going into the locker room.

Dubose had 13 points and seven rebounds at halftime, while Erika Brown and freshman Janette Thompson (Hot Springs, Ark.) were the next best first half performers with seven points each. The Cotton Blossoms barely out shot Montevallo with a 44 to 42 field goal percentage.

Gibson finished the game with 12 points, three rebounds and three steals, while Brown rounded out the UAM double-digit scorers with 12 points and six rebounds.

The Cotton Blossoms return to action Saturday at 1 p.m. to face St. Mary’s in the Lady Tiger Classic in Arkadelphia.