MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team will get back to playing conference games on Saturday when it hits the road to play Arkansas Tech University at 1 p.m.
 
LIVE COVERAGE LINKS
UAM GAME NOTES
UAM AT ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY– 12/7 – 1 P.M. – LIVE STATS, LIVE VIDEO, RADIO
 
GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Arkansas Tech University
Date: December 7, 2019
Location: Russellville, Arkansas – Tucker Coliseum
In-Game Updates: Twitter (@UAMsports)
Last Played: February 16, 2019 in Russellville (L, 82-59)
 
UAM PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 7-0
2019-20 GAC Record: 2-0
Head Coach: Greg Long, First Season (7-0)
 
SCOUTING THE BLOSSOMS
The UAM women's basketball team will get back to Great American Conference play with its matchup at Arkansas Tech University. The Blossoms enter the game with a 7-0 overall record and a 2-0 conference mark. The Golden Suns come into the contest with a 4-2 overall record and a 1-1 GAC record.
 
Last time out, UAM continued its best start in 43 years with another victory beating Crowley's Ridge College, 88-32. The Blossoms had four players in double-figures in the game with Mackenzie Tillman tallying 19 points leading the way. Kyiah Julian registered 13 points, Mekaylan Hicks rallied for 12 and Shania Smith managed to score 10 points. Defensively, UAM held the Pioneers to just 32 points, the lowest amount of points scored against the Blossoms this year.
 
The last time the Golden Suns played was back on November 27th when they traveled to Lane College for a 61-48 victory. ATU shot 36.2 percent from the floor in that one and just 20.0 percent from three-point range.
 
The Blossoms are off to their best start since 1976-77 at 7-0. That season, UAM began with a 16-0 record, and finished the year 20-3.
 
UAM's outstanding start is due to its impressive defensive play. Currently, the Blossoms are first in NCAA Division II in scoring defense surrendering just 45.3 points per game. They are also fourth in the country in scoring margin (+27.0), fourth in field goal percentage defense (31.0%) and 18th in rebounding margin (+11.3).
 
The Blossoms are also one of 11 teams that are undefeated with at least seven wins and they're the only remaining undefeated team from the GAC.
 
UAM also got some recognition nationally by the Division II Sports Information Directors Association getting ranked 20th in the latest D2SIDA poll. They are also third in the most recent Central Region D2SIDA poll. Although the D2SIDA polls do not relate to the NCAA regional voting later in the season, the recognition is definitely noted.
 
Along with their solid defensive stats, the Blossoms are averaging 72.3 points per game shooting 44.9 percent from the floor and 28.7 percent from downtown. UAM is also averaging 42.7 rebounds perc contest and 12.6 assists per game.
 
Individually, UAM has a pair of players averaging at least 10 points per game in Berniezha Tidwell and Hicks. Tidwell is the lead scorer posting 17.0 points per game and Hicks is averaging 10.1 points per game.
 
Tidwell also leads the team in assists per game and behind her, is Kayla Bradley who has averaged 2.8 assists per game. Bradley also is tallying 8.8 points per contest.
 
Behind Tidwell and Hicks in points is Tillman who is scoring 9.3 points per game while also averaging 1.0 assist per game.
 
With the impressive defensive stats as a team, it is obviously no surprise that UAM has a couple of the best defenders in the country. Tidwell is sixth in the country in steals per game at 3.83 while Bradley is 21st at 3.33 steals per game.
 
ARKANSAS TECH PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 4-2
2019-20 GAC Record: 1-1
Head Coach: Dave Wilbers, 13th Season (179-83)
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN SUNS
As for Arkansas Tech, they are currently one of the better rebounding teams in the country ranking 10th in rebounds per game (47.0), 12th in rebound margin (+12.8) and 14th offensive rebounds per game (16.7).
 
ATU averages 80.2 points per game and holds opponents to 61.3 points per contest. The Golden Suns are shooting 42.5 percent from the floor and 32.7 percent from downtown.
 
Three players are averaging at least 10 points per contest for ATU in Jalei Oglesby (21.2 ppg), Ke'Vonshaye Stackhouse (11.8 ppg) and Hannah Villines (10.2 ppg).
 
Stackhouse has been dangerous from three-point range this season ranking second in NCAA Division II shooting 58.8 percent from downtown.
 
Oglesby and Lycia Peevy are the team's top rebounders both registering 7.5 boards per contest.
 
UP NEXT
UAM will host Henderson State University next Saturday for its final conference game before the Holiday Break. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.