Box Score (HTML)

MONTICELLO – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team recorded its third straight Great American Conference victory with a 77-69 win over Southern Arkansas on Thursday inside Steelman Field House.

The Blossoms (8-7, 6-4 GAC) led for the entire contest after getting a made jumper from junior Courtni Gibson on the opening possession.

Four of UAM's starting five scored in double-figures in Thursday's win, led by a season-high 27 points from junior Jordan Goforth, who made 9-of-13 shots and 6-of-6 free throws. Junior Nelsha Peterson was next with 14 points.

Sophomore Tori Nichols scored 14 points, while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds and also setting a new career-high with six blocked shots in the win. Gibson rounded out UAM's double-digit scorers with 12 points and a game-high six assists.

The Blossoms led by as much as 11 points in the first half before the Lady Muleriders (4-12, 2-8 GAC) kept UAM to a single-digit lead in all but one occasion during the final 20 minutes. Goforth nailed a three-pointer at the 9:14 mark of the second half to cap an 8-0 run and put the Blossoms up 62-52.

UAM finished the game shooting 53 percent from the field (29-for-55), 50 percent on three-pointers (6-for-12) and 81 percent on foul shots (13-for-16). SAU finished at 48 percent overall (31-for-65), 31 percent on treys (4-for-13) and 33 percent on foul shots (3-for-9).

Chanel Miller led SAU with 13 points. Tierra Tucker and Shabr'an Richardson each added 11 points.

With the win, the Blossoms have ended the first round of GAC games in sole possession of fourth place. UAM opens the second round of league games this Saturday at Harding. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.