MONTICELLO – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team secured a spot in the 2016 Great American Conference Championship Tournament by defeating Southern Nazarene by a final score of 84-67 Thursday night inside Steelman Field House.

Depending on the results from Saturday's regular season finale against Oklahoma Baptist, the Blossoms (12-13, 9-12 GAC) will enter next week's conference tournament as the No. 7 seed or the No. 8 seed.

The Blossoms used a lop-sided 29-9 second period to pull away from the Crimson Storm (6-18, 5-16 GAC). UAM ended the period on a 17-3 scoring run to hold a 44-26 lead at the halftime break. UAM shot 64 percent from the field during the second period (9-for-14), while SNU only made two field goals on seven attempts.

UAM maintained its double-digit advantage throughout the third and fourth periods, getting on top by 20 at the 3:02 mark of the third on a pair of free throws by senior Jordan Goforth. At the 8:36 mark of the fourth, Goforth nailed a jumper to give UAM its largest lead of the game at 23.

The Blossoms finished the game shooting 46 percent from the field (28-for-61), 47 percent on three-pointers (8-for-17) and 87 percent on foul shots (20-for-23).
 
Goforth led all scorers with 27 points, her 15th game of the year with at least 20. She also added a game-high 10 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the year.

Senior Nikki Mullen followed with 21 points, seven rebounds and a career-high nine assists. Freshman Ayesha Wahid added 14 points in 23 minutes off the bench.

The Blossoms tallied a season-high eight blocked shots in the win, led by five from junior Tori Nichols.

SNU finished at 41 percent overall (21-for-51). Adrienne Berry led the Storm with 24 points. Abby Boyd added 19.

Saturday's game against Oklahoma Baptist tips off at 1 p.m. at Steelman Field House. Senior Day festivities will take place immediately after the game.