MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team defeated Henderson State University, 77-65, in a Great American Conference contest on Saturday from the Steelman Field House in Monticello, Arkansas. The Blossoms were led by Berniezha Tidwell who tallied 24 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
 
UAM led right from the start in the first quarter outdueling the Reddies, 23-12, to end the period. UAM went up 10-0 after Jaida Muhammad hit a deep three off an assist from Tidwell. Muhammad would get loose again later in the quarter and hit one from downtown to make it 15-6 in favor of UAM. To conclude the quarter, Mekaylan Hicks made a nice basket in the paint off an assist from Mackenzie Tillman.
 
The Blossoms got their lead to 16 at one point in the second quarter thanks to some solid play by Tidwell, Muhammad and Tillman. With 7:33 left in the half, Muhammad hit another triple to put UAM up 15. UAM took its 16-point lead shortly after when Tidwell got a steal and scored on a fastbreak to make it 39-23. To finish scoring for the Blossoms in the half, Tillman made a solid layup in the paint. HSU responded with a basket in the final seconds, but UAM would lead at halftime, 41-27.
 
In the third, the Blossoms let Henderson State creep back into it a bit cutting the deficit to eight points. After Hailey Estes hit a three to make it 44-36 UAM, Dezirae King responded with a triple of her own off a nice dish by Kayla Bradley. With 1:58 remaining, it was King again responding to put UAM up by double-digits with a nice layup in the paint to make it 51-40. Tidwell would drain a jumper a jumper to finish the third.
 
The fourth was more of the same for UAM as it eventually swelled its lead up to 20 points. Tidwell drained a three with a little over five minutes remaining and later nailed a 20-footer to make it a 19-point advantage. Bradley eventually got to the free-throw line and hit one-of-two to make it 71-51. Henderson State did get back within 10 in the final 33 seconds of the game, but it was not enough, as Nina Kizzee put the icing on the cake with a pair of three throws, helping UAM win, 77-65.
 
Tidwell's 24 points led all scorers. Three other Blossoms were also in double-figures in King (12 pts), Muhammad (10 pts) and Tillman (10 pts).
 
UAM outrebounded HSU, 45-42, in the contest with Pamela Bethel grabbing a team-high eight boards.
 
On defense, UAM forced 20 turnovers, had eight steals and a pair of blocks.
 
With the win, the Blossoms improve to 8-1 overall and 3-1 in GAC play, while the Reddies fall to 6-3 overall and 2-2 in conference games.
 
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UAM will play its final game of the 2019 year when it travels to Cleveland, Mississippi to battle Delta State on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for noon.