Box Score (HTML)

SEARCY, Arkansas – Junior Nelsha Peterson scored a career-high 22 points to lead the University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team in an 82-58 loss to No. 23 Harding on Saturday inside Rhodes Field House.

The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Blossoms (8-8, 6-5 Great American Conference), who held as much as an eight-point lead over the Lady Bisons in the first half. Harding (14-2, 10-0 GAC) outscored UAM 47-27 in the second half to remain undefeated in league contests this season.

UAM used a 7-0 run over a span of two minutes to take an eight-point lead at the 8:16 mark of the opening half. That run was capped by a layup from junior Nikki Mullen following two free throws and three-pointer by Peterson earlier in the run.

Harding immediately followed with an 11-0 run to take a three-point lead on a trey from Falan Miller at the 6:16 mark. Both teams exchanged baskets over the next five minutes before the Lady Bisons scored the final five points of the period to hold a 35-31 at the halftime break.

The Lady Bisons grabbed a double-digit lead at the 16:28 mark of the second half on a layup from Montana Lewis. UAM's Peterson nailed a pair of free throws on the other end to get UAM's deficit back to single digits, but for the last time as Harding used three-pointers on both of its next two possessions to get on top by 14 with 14:56 remaining in the game.

UAM finished the game shooting 39 percent from the field (21-for-54). The Blossoms made 3-of-10 three-pointers and 13-of-21 free throws. Peterson was the only Blossom to reach double-figures in scoring. Harding limited UAM's leading scorer, junior Jordan Goforth, to just eight points in the game.

Harding finished at 54 percent overall (30-for-56). The Lady Bisons made 10-of-22 three-pointers and 12-of-13 foul shots. Arielle Saunders led all players with a double-double of 20 points and 19 rebounds. Montana Lewis also scored 20 points for Harding.

The Blossoms are back in action on Thursday at home against Ouachita Baptist. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at Steelman Field House.