MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team came from behind for a 69-62 victory over Southern Arkansas University on Thursday night from the Steelman Field House in Monticello, Arkansas. The Blossoms trailed going into halftime, but never stopped fighting in the second half to earn the win.
 
The Blossoms found themselves down 33-24 as they went into the break, but by the end of the third quarter, they took a four-point lead and never looked back.
 
SAU jumped out in front early in the first quarter after going on a bit of a run. With the lead, 15-8, UAM responded to cut it to three thanks to buckets from Nina Kizzee and Mackenzie Tillman. However, the Muleriders went on another late run to take a 22-13 lead into the second quarter.
 
UAM found itself down double-digits with a little over five minutes remaining in the half and needed some big shots to shift the momentum. With 1:55 remaining in the period, it was Kayla Bradley who hit a basket on the fastbreak to cut it to single-digits. She then would hit a pair of free throws a few seconds later to make it a 30-23 SAU advantage.
 
The Muleriders later hit a three in the final few seconds and Berniezha Tidwell hit a free throw to keep it at single-digits as the period expired. Going into half, UAM trailed Southern Arkansas, 33-24.
 
Throughout the third quarter, the Blossoms made their move. With 6:44 left in the third, UAM got the game closer cutting it to one point when Kizzee hit a layup inside. SAU responded with a couple baskets, but in the final minutes of the period, UAM took the lead.
 
Tidwell and Bradley hit a few baskets as time concluded in the third and they gave the Blossoms the advantage, 52-48.
 
Into the fourth, the Blossoms defense staved off a SAU push keeping the lead no matter what the Muleriders threw at them. With 2:17 remaining, Kizzee made it an eight-point advantage at 66-58. Tidwell then made it 10 after a pair of free throws with under two minutes left.
 
The UAM defense held strong in the final minute and a half as it went on to win the game, 69-62.
 
Four players were in double-figures for the Blossoms including Bradley, Tidwell, Tillman and Mekaylan Hicks.
 
Bradley finished with 16 points, three rebounds and six steals on defense.
 
Tidwell, Hicks and Tillman each finished with 12 points. Tidwell added four rebounds and six steals to that line, while Hicks and Tillman both had nine rebounds apiece in the contest.
 
With the win, the Blossoms improve to 15-8 overall and 10-7 in Great American Conference play while SAU falls to 15-8 overall and 9-8 in conference games. UAM is also seventh in the GAC standings right behind Arkansas Tech University, who it is set to play on Saturday.
 
The Blossoms also earned their 11th home win of the season marking the most home victories for the team since UAM joined the NCAA.
 
UP NEXT
As mentioned before, UAM will play against Arkansas Tech on Saturday from Steelman Field House in Monticello. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.