Box Score
MONTICELLO, Ark. – The UAM women’s basketball team dropped their second game in a row today, 65-53 to Arkansas-Fort Smith.

The Lady Lions (5-3) led from beginning to end, hanging up six unanswered points to start the game. UAM’s shooting woes continued for the second game as the Blossoms (3-4) shot just 32-percent on the game.

A jumper from Channon Haywood cut the deficit to one at 8-9 early on, but the Blossoms could not get closer for the rest of the game. UAM went 6-of-22 in the first half and only pulled in three offensive rebounds.

The lead got as high as 17 for UAFS in the second half as they nursed their first half ten-point lead. The Blossoms went into the halftime break down 26-36 and could not get out of the hole.

For their part, UAFS shot 44-percent on the day (24-of-54). Each team hit five three’s while UAM held a plus-six advantage at the free throw line, 16-of-23 to 12-of-22. Fort Smith pushed their advantage down low, out-scoring UAM 28-18 “in the paint”. That combined with a 44-29 rebound deficit put the Blossoms on the losing end of the board.

Catherine Puckett led the Blossoms with 18 points and six rebounds. Fort Smith’s Whitney Lee also had 18 to tie for the game-high. For their efforts both were named to the All-Classic Team. Joining them were Southern Arkansas’ Shanece Black and Northeastern Oklahoma’s Katy Harsen. Fort Smith’s Tashley Gaines finished out the All-Classic Team. Whitney Lee took Classic MVP honors.

The Blossoms will return to Steelman Field House on Thursday night as they host the Christian Brothers Lady Buccaneers. Game time is slated for 5:30 p.m.