CLEVELAND, Miss.  – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women’s basketball team fell in overtime to West Alabama by a final score of 63-61 on the final day of Delta State’s Lloyd Clark Classic.

The Blossoms (6-3) reached their largest lead of the game with just over seven minutes left in regulation when senior Sharlene Murphy (Coldwater, Miss.) put the team up 55-47 with a lay-up. The Lady Tigers (3-7) then used an 8-0 run to end the half, forcing the game into overtime.

Only a combined total of eight points were scored in the five-minute overtime period, with five points going to UWA, securing its third win of the season. UAM was able to grab the lead back in the overtime period with a free-throw from junior Monica Perkins-Miller (Houston, Texas) for a 61-60 lead with two minutes left. UWA’s Omeisha Frost nailed a jump shot 30 seconds later, followed by a missed lay-up by Perkins-Miller.

UAM was then forced to foul, allowing UWA’s Danielle Baldwin to go to the line, giving the Lady Tigers their final advantage. Sophomore Erika Brown (Shreveport, La.) missed the game-tying field goal attempt with five seconds left, sealing the win for the Lady Tigers.

Brown led the Blossoms with 17 points with an 8-of-12 shooting performance, while also adding five rebounds to her totals. Perkins-Miller also reached double-digits with 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

The Lady Tigers were led by Valerie Harris with 23 points, while Keiara Middleton added 13 points and three assists.

UAM plays Central Arkansas in an exhibition contest on Thursday, December 18 at 7 p.m. The team then breaks for the holidays before playing in the North Alabama Classic on December 29-30.