Box Score
FORT SMITH, Ark. – The UAM women’s basketball team played neck-and-neck all night with UA-Fort Smith, but faltered late giving up the 70-62 loss on the road.
The Blossoms and Lions took a few minutes to get their respective offenses going in the first half. The first six plays of the game were turnovers and missed jump shots, but both teams eventually shook off the opening game jitters. UAFS got the first points of the game just under two minutes in but was quickly answered by Channon Haywood with an open jumper from Candace Virgadamo.
From that point both teams traded buckets back-and-forth until halftime. Chelsea Johnson played a stellar first half with 11 points and seven rebounds at the break, helping UAM to a 34-32 halftime lead. The shooting definitely started rocky for both teams with the Lions shooting 42-percent (13-of-31) from the field and the Blossoms at 36-percent (10-of-28). Both teams went just 2-of-6 from three point range.
Fortunately for the Blossoms they were lights-out from the foul line. In the first half UAM went 12-of-13 from the stripe allowing them to overcome their slightly colder shooting from the floor. Johnson was 6-of-6 from the line for over half of her mid-game total.
The second half started in much the same way as the first, with both teams trading baskets. UAFS took the lead with 7:27 remaining in the game off a three pointer from Katie Benamor to go up 58-56. They did not trail again. The Blossoms remained at least two points down until the final buzzer sounded.
Chelsea Johnson scored UAM’s last field goal with 3:08 remaining to pull the Blossoms within two again, 60-62. Unfortunately, Candace Virgadamo’s free throws with 2:33 remaining would be the Blossoms’ last points of the game, allowing UAFS to pull away at the end for the 70-62 win.
UAM was led by Chelsea Johnson with 19 points and 8 rebounds on the night. Channon Haywood and Candace Virgadamo joined her in double figures with 17 and 15 points, respectively. The Lions were led by Vasha Sanders with 16 points.
The Blossoms finished the game shooting 33-percent from the floor (18-of-55), including 6-of-18 from three (33-percent). UAM shot 26 free throws in the game, hitting 20 for 77-percent.
The Blossoms will return to action tomorrow afternoon as they take on the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in their final game at the 2011 UAFS Lady Lions’ Classic. UAM’s home opener is scheduled for Tuesday night, November 15, as they will host Ecclesia College at 5:30 p.m. at Steelman Field House.
