Southeastern Hangs on to Defeat UAM Cotton Blossoms, 90-84

Courtesy UAM Athletics Department

DURANT, Okla. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women’s basketball team recorded its second-highest scoring total of the season on Saturday in a losing effort, falling to Southeastern Oklahoma State 90-84 on the road inside Bloomer Sullivan Arena in Great American Conference action.

The Cotton Blossoms (2-9, 0-6 GAC) led for the majority of the first 15 minutes, leading by as much as seven points on two different on occasions following back-to-back three pointers from junior Katie Choate and freshman Courtni Gibson. Those treys were a part of a 9-3 scoring run that gave the Cotton Blossoms a 23-16 lead with 12:32 remaining in the opening period.

Southeastern (5-7, 3-3 GAC) responded with a 12-4 run over the next four minutes to take a one-point lead of 28-27 on a pair of free throws from Haley Schaefer at the 8:41 mark.

The two squads went back-and-forth over the next six minutes with five lead changes, before SOSU used a 7-2 run in the final two minutes to take a four-point lead of 50-46 into the locker room at the break.

The Savage Storm maintained its lead throughout the first seven minutes of the second half before UAM used a 6-0 run capped off by a layup from freshman Jordan Goforth at the 12:24 mark to give the Cotton Blossoms a 63-62 lead. Three minutes later, the Cotton Blossoms would grab their largest lead of the second half at three points on a layup from freshman Nikki Mullen

Southeastern captured the lead for the final time with just under eight minutes remaining. The Cotton Blossoms trimmed the lead to four points on two different occasions in the final two minutes.

As a team, UAM shot a season-high 49 percent from the field (32-of-65), 27 percent on three-pointers (4-of-15) and 62 percent on foul shots (16-of-26). SOSU shot 56 percent from the field (29-of-52), 43 percent on three-pointers (3-of-7) and 83 percent on foul shots (29-of-35).

Freshman Jordan Goforth led UAM with 17 points and five rebounds. Freshman Donlicia James and junior Ashley Qualls also reached double-figures for UAM with 16 and 10 points, respectively.

Southeastern’s Cheree Kiser led all scorers and was perfect from the field off the bench with 25 points on an 8-of-8 shooting performance. Haley Schaefer added a double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds.

The Cotton Blossoms are back in action next Thursday, January 10 at home against Southern Nazarene. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. inside Steelman Fieldhouse.