MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team will host rival Southern Arkansas University on Thursday from the Steelman Field House in Monticello, Arkansas, with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The Blossoms will be looking for revenge after falling earlier this season on the road to the Muleriders in Magnolia, Arkansas.
It will also be Pajama Night from the Steelman Field House as fans are encouraged to wear their best pajamas and come to the games.
COVERAGE LINKS
UAM GAME NOTES
UAM VS.
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY – 2/13 – 5:30 P.M. –
LIVE STATS,
LIVE VIDEO
THURSDAY'S GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Southern Arkansas University Muleriders
Date: February 13, 2020
Location: Monticello, Arkansas – Steelman Field House
In-Game Updates: Twitter (@UAMsports)
Last Played: January 16, 2020 in Magnolia (L, 79-74)
UAM PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 14-8
2019-20 GAC Record: 9-7
Head Coach:
Greg Long, First Season (14-8)
SCOUTING THE BLOSSOMS
The last time these two teams met was on January 16th in Magnolia, Arkansas. The Muleriders won the game by a score of 79-74.
Last time out, UAM is coming off a big road victory at Henderson State where they defeated the Reddies, 64-62. As for SAU, the Muleriders won in overtime at Arkansas Tech University, 96-95.
A win at home on Thursday would give UAM its best home record in the NCAA era with 11 home victories, breaking yet another record in this historic 2019-20 campaign.
The Blossoms will look to get home-court advantage by holding a promotional night. It's Pajama Night in Steelman as fans will be dressing up in their PJ's for the contests.
UAM enters this one as still one of the best defensive teams in Division II and the GAC. They rank 46th in scoring defense and first in the GAC averaging 58.6 points per game. The Blossoms are also 30th in DII and third in the conference in steals per game at 10.9 along with 37th and third in turnovers forced per game at 20.9.
For the rest of the team stats, the Blossoms are averaging 66.9 points per game and have a +8.3-scoring margin. They are shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 28.0 percent from downtown.
On the glass, UAM is outrebounding the opposition by +4.0 snagging 38.4 boards per game while opponents are snagging 34.4.
Berniezha Tidwell continues to be one of the top offensive and defensive players in the conference this season. She is scoring 16.4 points per game, 7.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per contest. Defensively, she is fifth in DII in steals per game averaging 3.4.
Mackenzie Tillman is second to Tidwell in scoring as she averages 10.9 points per game shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 32.4 from downtown.
Hicks sits behind Tillman in scoring averaging 8.7 points per contest while snagging 5.6 rebounds per game. She also leads the team in blocks with 13.
Perhaps one of the biggest sparks thus far in 2019-20 was the play from freshman
Shania Smith on Saturday. Off the bench against the Reddies, the Monticello native put up 15 points in 16 minutes played going 6-of-9 from the field and 3-of-5 from downtown.
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 15-7
2019-20 GAC Record: 9-7
Head Coach: Adam Collins, 12th Season Overall (177-162)
SCOUTING THE MULERIDERS
As for the Muleriders, they are known for playing just about everyone on their roster. 11 players thus far in 2019-20 have appeared in all 22 of their contests.
The best minutes per game average out of any of the players on the roster is 18.9. 11 of their players also average at least 11 minutes per contest as well.
Kisi Young has been the team's top scorer averaging 10.0 points per game shooting 55.9 percent from the field. She also leads the roster in rebounds per game at 5.7.
UP NEXT
UAM will remain at home to face Arkansas Tech University on Saturday from Steelman Field House in Monticello. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
