BOX SCORE / POSTGAME INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH TANYA RAY
MONTICELLO — The University of Arkansas at Monticello women’s basketball team had an upset in the making, leading first-place East Central University for most of Saturday’s game, but the Lady Tigers held UAM without a field goal in the final three minutes and took advantage of UAM’s missed free throws to record a 63-61 victory.
The Cotton Blossoms (4-16, 2-13 GAC) led for the entire first half, holding its largest edge at seven points following an 11-3 run, capped off by a three-pointer from sophomore Catherine Puckett at the 7:32 mark. ECU (17-4, 12-3 GAC) kept UAM to no more than a four-point lead and made five free throws in the final minute of the first half to give the Cotton Blossoms a three-point advantage at the break.
UAM kept its defensive game going early in the second half, outscoring ECU 9-3 throughout the first five minutes to grab an eight-point lead on a jumper from junior Ashley Qualls at the 15:05 mark. ECU immediately responded with an 7-0 scoring to cut UAM’s lead to one point at the 13:06 mark.
UAM made another run to get back on top by eight points, outscoring ECU 10-1 over the next two minutes before ECU took its first lead of the contest at the 8:26 mark following a 9-0 run with a three-pointer from Erin Walling putting the Lady Tigers up 50-49.
Neither team led by more than four points throughout the remainder of the contest, which featured five lead changes and two tie scores.
Freshman Donlicia James made a free-throw with 1:18 remaining to force the final tie at 61-all. Both teams were kept scoreless from that point, until ECU’s Kodi Morrison finalized the scoring on a layup with four seconds remaining. Senior Candace Virgadamo’s desperation attempt at the buzzer went off the back of the goal to seal the win for ECU and keep the Lady Tigers in sole possession of first place in the Great American Conference.
UAM missed four free throw attempts in the final five minutes of the second half, and ended the game shooting 50 percent from the charity stripe (17-of-34).
As a team, UAM shot 37 percent from the field (19-of-52) and 43 percent on three-pointers (6-of-14). ECU shot 33 percent from the field (19-of-58), 38 percent on three-pointers (5-of-13) and 87 percent on free throws (20-of-23).
Qualls tied ECU’s Regan Browne for the game-high in scoring with 18 points. Freshman Jordan Goforth added 17 points and Puckett recorded a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Cotton Blossoms are scheduled to play its final non-conference game of the season this upcoming Tuesday, February 12 at home against Ecclesia College. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. inside Steelman Field House.
