MONTICELLO – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women’s basketball team kept its perfect Gulf South Conference record intact with an 82-78 overtime win over Henderson State on Thursday at Steelman Field House.
The Cotton Blossoms (6-8, 2-0 GSC) used 46 percent shooting in the first half to hold a 41-33 lead at the break. In the second half, the Lady Reddies (9-5, 0-2 GSC) outscored UAM 37-29 to force the extra period, which was the first overtime game of the season for both teams.
Sophomore LaChasity Seale waited until overtime to reach the stat sheet, scoring all nine of her points, highlighted by a pair of three-pointers and a layup with 17 seconds remaining to give UAM its final lead.
Four of UAM’s five starters reached double-digits in scoring in the win, led by junior Chelsea Johnson’s game-high 19 points on 6-of-17 shooting, including five three-pointers. Junior Alex Hart added 18, junior Jerica Hubbard had 13 and junior Channon Haywood had 10.
Gianna Woods led HSU with 18 points, followed by Jazmine Ellis with 15 and Nyesha Adams with 13.
The Cotton Blossoms finished the game shooting 40 percent from the field (23-of-57), 37 percent on three-pointers (10-of-27) and 67 percent at the foul line (26-of-39). The Lady Reddies shot 42 percent from the field (26-of-69), 33 percent on three-pointers (5-of-15) and 79 percent at the foul line (15-of-19).
UAM seeks its third straight conference win and first true road win of the season this Saturday in Russellville, Ark., but the team will have a tough test in nationally fourth-ranked Arkansas Tech. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. at Tucker Coliseum.
