MONTICELLO, Ark – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team upset No. 18 Harding University on Thursday night at the Steelman Field House in Monticello, Arkansas, 65-62. It was UAM's first win over a ranked opponent since the Great American Conference began in 2011.
 
Not only was Harding ranked 18th in the country, but the Lady Bisons were also picked first in the GAC preseason poll, as opposed to UAM who was picked 12th.
 
It was loud and wild at Steelman right from the beginning as it was a back-and-forth first quarter. Toward the end of the period, with the score tied at 13, Nina Kizzee drilled a three in the corner to put UAM up three. Harding did answer with a basket, but Mackenzie Tillman then got in on the action with a layup as the Blossoms took a two-point lead.
 
Harding then tied the contest at 18, but Kyiah Julian responded with a triple giving UAM a three-point advantage. Harding later took the lead back, but with 15 seconds remaining in the quarter, Julian hit another three and UAM took a 24-22 lead to end the first.
 
In the second, the game remained close. Berniezha Tidwell gave UAM a four-point advantage to start scoring, but HU answered back with a basket, and later took a one-point lead with a triple from Peyton Padgett.
 
Tidwell continued her scoring stretch to get UAM's lead back to one on a three-point play, and later, she hit a pair of free throws to make it a 32-28 lead in favor of the Blossoms.
 
Nearing the end of the half, Harding cut the deficit to two points, but UAM went on a four-point run to close out the quarter, leading into the break, 36-30.
 
UAM had the momentum on its side in the third, tallying baskets at the start. With 6:23 remaining in the third, the Blossoms went on a six-point stretch to take their largest lead of the night at 10 points when Pamela Bethel got in on the action leading 47-37.
 
Following a timeout, Harding scored, and Tillman later hit a free throw to finish the third quarter with the score, 50-42 UAM.
 
UAM got the lead back to 10 to start the fourth as Tidwell drilled a jumper in the paint. Shortly after, Harding got a basket and hit a couple free throws to cut the deficit to five points.
 
With under five minutes to play, Brandashia Hargraves got a basket back, and following a Harding score, Mekaylan Hicks hit layup in transition to get the lead back to eight.
 
Harding would respond with a triple from Kylee Coulter and then put the deficit down to one point on a pair of free throws from Jacie Evans with 2:05 remaining.
 
With 1:07 left, Tidwell hit a jumper to make it 60-58 blossoms and Bethel hit a big basket with 29 seconds remaining making it 62-58 UAM. Harding was forced to foul, and Tidwell hit two clutch free throws to put the score at 64-58. Kizzee would hit one of her free throws and Lady Bisons then drained a couple of free throws in the final seconds, but they were not enough as the Blossoms went on to win, 65-62.
 
Tidwell was the team's top scorer finishing with 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
 
With the win, UAM improves to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Harding falls to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in league games.
 
The win was UAM's first over a ranked opponent in the GAC era, and its 5-0 start marks its best start to a season since 2008-09 where they were 6-0 to begin the year.
 
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UAM will hit the road on Saturday to play Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.