Box Score
Box Score (HTML)

MONTICELLO – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team trimmed a 17-point deficit down to three points with 5:32 remaining, but could not overcome a poor shooting performance in a 66-54 loss to East Central University on Thursday night at home.

East Central (7-4, 2-3 Great American Conference) held UAM (5-5, 1-3 GAC) without a made field goal for the final 14 minutes of the first half to take a 31-14 lead at the break. UAM had taken a 10-8 lead on a fast break layup from sophomore Tamia Grady at the 14:22 minute mark for the final field goal of the opening half.

In the second half, UAM cut ECU's lead to single digits at the 11:42 mark on three-pointers from sophomores Nikki Mullen and Jordan Goforth. That sparked a 17-6 run for the Cotton Blossoms to get to within three points at 45-42 with 8:32 remaining.

UAM again got to within three points of the Lady Tigers at the 5:32 on a layup from Goforth, but ECU stormed back to take a double-digit lead, mostly on free throws, in the final minutes.

The Blossoms finished the game shooting a season-low 34 percent from the field (18-for-53), 26 percent on three-pointers (5-for-19) and 62 percent on foulshots (13-for-21). The Lady Tigers shot 46 percent from the field (26-for-57), 35 percent on three-pointers (6-for-17) and 100 percent at the foul line (8-for-8).

Goforth and Grady each finished with 20 points. Goforth was 7-for-14 from the field, while Grady finished 6-for-17 and made 7-of-12 foul shots.

Alycea Price led the Lady Tigers with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The Blossoms are back in action on Saturday at home against Southeastern Oklahoma State. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. inside Steelman Field House.