BOX SCORE
WEATHERFORD, Okla. –The University of Arkansas at Monticello women’s basketball team opened the Great American Conference portion of the 2012-13 schedule with a 77-66 loss to Southwestern Oklahoma State on the road Thursday night inside Rankin Williams Fieldhouse.
The Bulldogs (5-1, 1-0 GAC) jumped out to a quick lead thanks in part to six consecutive made three-point field goal attempts. SWOSU held a 19-6 lead at the 15:09 mark of the opening period before UAM used an 18-9 scoring run, capped off by a pair of free-throws from senior Candace Virgadamo to cut the deficit to just two points at 26-24 with 8:21 remaining.
The Bulldogs closed out the first half on a 10-5 run to give SWOSU a 10-point lead of 39-29 at the break.
UAM (2-3, 0-1 GAC) came out scoring the first five points of the second half to cut the lead to five points at the 18:01 mark. SWOSU used an 8-3 scoring run to get back on top by double-digits at the 16:13 mark.
UAM cut the SWOSU lead back to single-digits four minutes later and used a 6-0 scoring burst, capped by a jumper from junior Demetra Howlingwolf to put the Bulldogs ahead by just four points with just over eight minutes remaining in regulation.
SWOSU kept answering on the other end and grabbed another double-digit lead with just over three minutes remaining and did not relinquish that double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest.
UAM ended the game shooting 37 percent from the field (28-of-57), 23 percent on three-pointers (3-of-13) and 61 percent on foul shots (19-of-31). SWOSU shot 49 percent from the field (28-of-57), 46 percent on three-pointers (11-of-24) and 91 percent on foul shots (10-of-11).
Freshman Donlicia James led UAM in scoring with 14 points, 12 coming in the final 20 minutes. Junior Raija McWright also reached double-digits in scoring for UAM with 12 points.
SWOSU’s Michelle Fisher led all scorers with 28 points, 18 coming on 6-of-9 three-point shooting.
UAM continues GAC action on Saturday, December 1 against Northwestern Oklahoma State. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. in Alva, Okla.
