MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team will look to remain undefeated to start the season when it travels to Arkadelphia, Arkansas on Saturday in a matchup at Ouachita Baptist University at 5 p.m.
 
LIVE COVERAGE LINKS
UAM GAME NOTES
UAM AT OUACHITA BAPTIST – 11/23 – 5 P.M. – LIVE STATS, VIDEO
 
GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Ouachita Baptist University
Date: November 23, 2019
Location: Arkadelphia, Arkansas – Bill Vining Arena
In-Game Updates: Twitter (@UAMsports)
Last Played: January 19, 2019 in Arkadelphia (W, 84-54)
 
UAM PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 5-0
2019-20 GAC Record: 1-0
Head Coach: Greg Long, First Season (5-0)
 
SCOUTING THE BLOSSOMS
The UAM women's basketball team enters this game with a 5-0 overall record and will play on the road against Ouachita Baptist, who is 0-4. UAM is 1-0 in league games, while Ouachita is 0-1 in Great American Conference contests.
 
UAM is off to a 5-0 start for the first time since 2008-09. That year, the Blossoms finished 21-9 and were 10-4 in the Gulf South Conference. They also were an NCAA South Region Semi-Finalist.
 
If UAM earns a victory on Saturday, it will be 6-0 to begin a season for the first time since 1976-77. That year, the Blossoms began the year with a 16-0 record, and finished the season 20-3.
 
The Blossoms are coming off a 65-62 victory over 18th ranked Harding University. It was UAM's first win over a ranked opponent in the GAC era, and the first time it had beaten the Lady Bisons since 2015.
 
The Blossoms have continued their impressive defensive start and are still second in NCAA Division II in scoring defense (45.0 ppg), eighth in field goal percentage defense (30.1), 11th in scoring margin (+26.0 pts) and 11th in steals (63). UAM is also 27th in the country in turnover margin (+7.20) and 36th in turnovers forced (22.80 per game).
 
On offense, UAM is shooting 44.9 percent from the floor and 26.5 percent from downtown. Their top two offensive players thus far are Berniezha Tidwell and Mekaylan Hicks who are averaging 17.6 and 10.2 points per game, respectively.
 
Hicks has controlled the glass for the Blossoms and is tops on the team in rebounds per game (6.6). She also has 16 offensive boards, which also leads the roster.
 
Much of UAM's impressive team's defensive stats are in part to outstanding guard play from Tidwell and Kayla Bradley. The pair are top-10 in Division II in steals with Tidwell ranking second (20) and Bradley ranking ninth (18).
 
Bradley also is third on the roster in scoring at 8.0 points per game and is second on the team to Tidwell in assists with 16.
 
Mackenzie Tillman has come off the bench nicely ranking fourth on the roster in points per game at 7.5, while Nina Kizzee has done the same tallying 6.2 points per contest.
 
Jaida Muhammad has been the team's best shooter from downtown. She's started in all five games and is shooting 42.9 percent from deep. She also averages 5.8 points per contest. 
 
OUACHITA PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 0-4
2019-20 GAC Record: 0-1
Head Coach: Robert Dallimore, First Season (0-4)
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Ouachita enters this game on a four-game losing streak having just loss its first conference game at Arkansas Tech. The Tigers will host UAM for their first home matchup of the 2019-20 campaign.
 
The Tigers are led by Eden Crow and Madison Brittain. Crow has averaged 10.8 points per game, while Brittain has provided 9.8 points per game.
 
Jakyya Clay and Madison Raney are the roster's top rebounders averaging 5.5 and 5.0 per game, respectively.
 
UP NEXT
UAM will take a break for the holiday and return to action on December 3 with a matchup against Crowleys Ridge College at 6:30 p.m. at the Steelman Field House.