Box Score SEARCY, Ark. – The Cotton Blossoms went ice cold in the second half, handing a 67-44 victory to the Harding University Lady Bison at Rhodes Field House tonight.

Taylor Clark got the Blossoms (5-12, 1-6 GAC) on the boards first, but a 9-0 run by the Lady Bison (12-5, 5-2 GAC) before the first media timeout gave them the early 11-4 advantage. They carried that lead for much of the half, getting it has high as 11 in the frame, but Channon Haywood sparked a mini 7-3 run to close the half, and Alex Hart finished it with five straight points, to pull the Blossoms within six by the break, 22-28.

Blossoms cut the lead down to two after a pair of Hart free throws, but the Bison surged ahead again with a 10-2 run to reclaim the double-digit lead, 44-34, with 9:40 remaining in the game. The run continued until the Bison lead grew to 63-34 after a 10:45 minute drought for the Blossoms and a 29-2 run for Harding. Catherine Puckett snapped the streak at the foul line before Candace Virgadamo hit UAM’s first field goal in 13 and a half minutes.

UAM shot 15-of-50 from the floor, for 30-percent, including 3-of-12 from three-point range, 25-percent. The Blossoms hit just seven field goals in the second half for 27-percent. They went 11-of-13 from the charity stripe on the night for 85-percent. Harding went 27-of-53 from the field, 7-of-15 from three, and 6-of-10 from the foul line. 

The Blossoms were led in scoring by Catherine Puckett with 10 points in 35 minutes.  Taylor Clark pulled in a team-high five rebounds in the contest. Harding was led by Kristin Celsor’s 21 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes for the double-double.

UAM will return to Steelman Field House this Saturday afternoon as they host the Lady Tigers of Ouachita Baptist in GAC action. Tipoff is slated for 2:00 pm.