Lady Tigers Down UAM Cotton Blossoms, 74-45

Courtesy UAM Athletics Department

ADA, Okla. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women’s basketball team suffered a 74-45 loss to East Central on the road Thursday in Great American Conference action.

The UAM Cotton Blossoms (2-8, 0-5 GAC) opened the first half with the game’s first four points on back-to-back possessions, but then went on over a 10-minute stretch without a made field goal, allowing ECU to grow its lead to double-digits with 11:33 remaining in the first period.

Back-and-forth exchanges over the next two minutes kept the ECU lead to around the 10-point mark, until the Lady Tigers (9-2, 4-1 GAC) outscored UAM 11-4 over the final four minutes of the first half.

ECU opened the second half on a 7-2 scoring run to eclipse the 20-point lead barrier at the 18:19 mark. ECU kept that 20-point throughout the remainder of the contest and captured its largest lead of the game at 30 points with 5:12 remaining in regulation.

The UAM Cotton Blossoms posted a season-low outing from the field, connecting on just 18-of-63 field goal attempts for a 29 percent performance. UAM went 0-11 from three-point range and 9-of-14 from the foul line.

ECU shot 43 percent from the field (28-of-65), 37 percent on three-pointers (7-of-19) and 79 percent on foul shots (11-of-14).

UAM was led in scoring by junior Raija McWright with nine points. Freshman Cinderella Linnear trailed closely with eight points. Sophomore Catherine Puckett and junior Ashley Qualls added seven points each.

ECU posted five scorers in double-digits, led by Kodi Morrison with 13 points, all in the first half. ECU had three players record a double-double in points and rebounds. The Lady Tigers won the rebound battle 56-31.

UAM returns to action on Saturday, January 5 on the road against Southeastern Oklahoma State. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. in Durant, Okla. at Bloomer Sullivan Arena.