MONTICELLO — Southern Arkansas outshot the University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team by nearly 30 percentage points on Monday night, resulting in a 75-59 Great American Conference rivalry victory for the Lady Muleriders.
SAU (10-3, 6-3 GAC) finished at 60 percent from the field (35-for-58), while UAM (8-5, 5-4 GAC) wrapped up the night at 34 percent (21-for-62).
SAU started the game on a 9-2 scoring run, prompting a timeout from the UAM bench. The Blossoms responded to take a 15-13 lead with two minutes remaining in the first quarter as they went on an extended 13-4 run. The teams exchanged baskets to end the quarter, and SAU led by only one point, 18-17, despite shooting 67 percent for the quarter.
The Lady Muleriders failed to capitalize on the Blossoms' struggles from the floor, as they were unable to gain a lead and were tied at 25 halfway through the opening period despite UAM shooting below 40 percent. A 9-0 SAU run, though, gave the visitors their largest lead of the game at nine, 34-25. An 11-3 run for the Blossoms to end the half brought the score to within one, with the Muleriders leading 37-36.
The Muleriders' hot shooting continued to start the second half as SAU opened with an 8-0 run to go up by nine. UAM failed to score for the first five minutes of the half before a Jordan Goforth three-pointer brought the lead back down to six. The Muleriders broke the game open later in the period as an 18-5 run gave them their largest lead of the game at 55-41. The teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter and the Blossoms trailed 59-45 heading into the final 10 minutes after being outscored 22-9 in the third.
SAU maintained its double-digit lead throughout the fourth period.
Goforth led the Blossoms in scoring with 20 points and was one of two Blossoms in double-figures, joined by Ayesha Wahid who had 10.
SAU's Rosa Bryant led all scorers with 25 points.
UAM is back in action on Thursday at home against Ouachita Baptist University. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. at Steelman Field House.
