MONTICELLO  – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women’s basketball team needed overtime to defeat the Tritons of Missouri-St. Louis, winning the opening day game of the 2nd Annual Dr. Mary Jane Gilbert Classic 78-70 in one extra period.

The Blossoms (3-0) had as much as a 16-point lead with around eight minutes left in the first half, but the comeback efforts of the Tritons (1-3) in the last three minutes, including an 8-0 run, gave UAM only a three-point edge at the halftime break at 33-30.

UAM came out of the locker room with a little more intensity, stretching its lead back to as much as 14 just nine minutes into the second stanza.                  

The Tritons stayed in the game and even grabbed its first lead of the game with 30 seconds remaining in regulation at 66-65. A successful foul shot from freshman Taylor Clark (Searcy, Ark.) tied the game at 66, which sent the game into overtime.

In the overtime period, UAM grabbed the lead once more with two foul shots from junior Nicole Lowe (Jackson, Miss.) with 4:16 left in overtime. With less than a minute remaining, freshman Jerica Hubard (Ashdown, Ark.) sunk a free-throw shot to give the Blossoms a four-point lead, forcing UMSL to be successful in two possessions.

Senior Andrea Dubose (Hickory, Miss.) and Hubard tied for the game-high in scoring with 16 points each. Also reaching double digits was senior Sharlene Murphy (Coldwater, Miss.) with 11 and Lowe with 10.

The Blossoms conclude play in the Dr. Mary Jane Gilbert Classic with a 2 p.m. contest tomorrow (Sunday, November 29) against West Florida at Steelman Fieldhouse.