MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team will host Henderson State University for a Great American Conference matchup on Saturday at the Steelman Field House in Monticello, Arkansas with tipoff set for 2 p.m.
 
LIVE COVERAGE LINKS
UAM GAME NOTES | HSU GAME NOTES | LINK TO PREVIEW VIDEO | JINGLE JAM INFO
UAM VS. HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY – 12/14 – 2 P.M. – LIVE STATS, LIVE VIDEO
 
GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Henderson State University
Date: December 14, 2019
Location: Monticello, Arkansas – Steelman Field House
In-Game Updates: Twitter (@UAMsports)
Last Played: February 9, 2019 in Monticello (L, 76-68)
 
UAM PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 7-1
2019-20 GAC Record: 2-1
Head Coach: Greg Long, First Season (7-1)
 
SCOUTING THE BLOSSOMS
For UAM, its last game was on Saturday December 7th on the road at Arkansas Tech University. The Blossoms suffered their first loss of the 2019-20 campaign in that contest falling, 72-57. Henderson State is also coming off a loss on the road on December 7th after losing at Harding, 66-64.
 
UAM and HSU last met on February 9, 2019 in Monticello. The Blossoms lost that matchup by eight points, 76-68. In that matchup, UAM shot 50.0 percent from the floor and 38.5 from downtown but struggled at the line tallying a 64.3 free-throw percentage.
 
Despite last week's loss, UAM is still off to an impressive 7-1 start this year. The Blossoms were 7-0 to start a year for the first time since 1976-77 before recording its first defeat. UAM is tied for second in the conference with three other teams for second place.
 
Even with the loss, the Blossoms remain one of the better teams in the country in several categories. They are currently second in NCAA Division II in scoring defense surrendering just 48.6 points per game, 13th in field goal percentage defense at 33.2 percent per game, 14th in scoring margin at +21.8 and 15th in three-point field goal percentage defense at 24.6 percent.
 
As a team, UAM is shooting 43.1 percent from the floor and 26.5 percent from downtown and averaging 70.4 points per game, while opponents score just 48.6 points per contest.
 
As for individual performances, UAM is led by Berniezha Tidwell and Mekaylan Hicks on the offensive side and defensive side. Tidwell is averaging 17.4 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game and 4.0 assists per contest. She also has totaled 24 steals and three blocks and is 14th in the country in steals per game at 3.43. Hicks is second on the roster in scoring averaging 10.4 points per game, is first in rebounds per game at 6.5 and has tallied three blocks and 14 steals.
 
Off the bench, Mackenzie Tillman is third on the roster in points per game (9.1), averages 3.0 rebounds per contest and is shooting 48.1 percent from the floor.
 
Before being sidelined by an injury, Kayla Bradley was also one of the key components on the UAM roster averaging 8.8 points per game and 2.8 assists per contest. She is also second to Tidwell in steals with 20.
 
HENDERSON STATE PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 6-2
2019-20 GAC Record: 2-1
Head Coach: Jill Thomas, Sixth Season (90-88)
 
SCOUTING THE REDDIES
The Reddies enter this game having won four of their last five games scoring 79.5 points per game and averaging 42.4 rebounds per game. HSU is also one of the better teams in the country at defending the three-pointer ranking second in three-point field goal percentage at 20.9 percent.
 
Henderson State has four players averaging at least 10 points per game led by Hailey Estes who is scoring 16.5 points per contest. Karrington Whaley is behind her at 13.1 points per contest, while Pink Jones and Lani Snowden round out the four top scorers at 10.6 points and 10.1 points per game, respectively.
 
Jones and Estes have also gotten some national recognition individually with Jones ranking seventh in DII in assists per game at 6.5 and eighth in total assists at 52. Estes has been dangerous from three-point range ranking sixth in three-point field goals per game (3.8) and 10th in three-pointers made (30).
 
Estes is also the team's top rebounder averaging 9.4 boards per game, while Whaley is second on the roster in the category at 8.0 per game.
 
UP NEXT
UAM will hit the road for its last game of 2019, when it plays at Delta State University on Wednesday December 18th. Tipoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.