MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team will conclude its home schedule when it hosts East Central University on Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. and Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. Both games will be played at the Steelman Field House in Monticello.
 
COVERAGE LINKS
UAM GAME NOTES, ECU and SEOSU
UAM VS. EAST CENTRAL UNIVERSITY – 2/20 – 5:30 P.M. – LIVE STATS, LIVE VIDEO
UAM VS. SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY – 2/22 – 1 P.M. – LIVE STATS, LIVE VIDEO
 
THURSDAY'S GAME DETAILS
Opponent: East Central University Tigers
Date: February 20, 2020
Location: Monticello, Arkansas – Steelman Field House
In-Game Updates: Twitter (@UAMsports)
Last Played: January 11, 2020 in Ada (W, 59-55)
 
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS NIGHT
Thursday night's game will be UAM's Breast Cancer Awareness game. It will be a pink-out at Steelman. For fans, pink UAM women's basketball t-shirts will be on sale for $25. All proceeds will go to Breast Cancer research.
 
SATURDAY'S GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Southeastern Oklahoma State University Savage Storm
Date: February 22, 2020
Location: Monticello, Arkansas – Steelman Field House
In-Game Updates: Twitter (@UAMsports)
Last Played: January 9, 2020 in Durant (L, 76-65)
 
SENIOR DAY
Between the women's game and the men's game, the Blossoms will honor the careers of three seniors in Pamela Bethel, Lynah Bontiff and Berniezha Tidwell.
 
UAM PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 16-8
2019-20 GAC Record: 11-7
Head Coach: Greg Long, First Season (16-8)
 
SCOUTING THE BLOSSOMS
UAM's last time out they defeated Arkansas Tech University in one of their best offensive performances this season, winning, 84-72. In that game, four players finished in double-figures with Mackenzie Tillman leading the way with 15 points while also snagging eight rebounds.
 
The Blossoms previously split their two contests between upcoming opponents, East Central University and Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
 
With four games left on the regular season schedule, the Blossoms are very close clinching a Great American Conference Tournament berth. A win Thursday or Saturday and a loss by Northwestern Oklahoma State University punches UAM's ticket to Bartlesville, Oklahoma for the tournament. As for seeding however, that is a different story.
 
UAM is just two games back of top-placed Southeastern Oklahoma State and Harding, and one game behind Henderson State, Southwestern Oklahoma State and Southern Nazarene. The seeding is just too close to call.
 
The Blossoms will still use their defense to try and get them in the tournament as they are holding opponents to score 59.3 points per game, and they rank 23rd in the country in steals per game at 11.1 and 27th in total steals at 267.
 
On offense, UAM is scoring 67.7 points per game shooting 41.6 percent from the field and 28.8 from downtown! They are led by Tidwell and Mackenzie Tillman in scoring.
 
Tidwell averages 16.0 points per game averaging 3.9 assists per game and leads the team in rebounds per game at 6.9. She also is one of the top defenders in DII as she is sixth in steals per game at 3.4.
 
Tillman has been lighting up the field of late as she averages 11.9 points per game shooting 48.2 percent from the field and a team-best 81.8 percent from the free-throw line.
 
EAST CENTRAL UNIVERSITY PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 7-17
2019-20 GAC Record: 5-13
Head Coach: Matt Cole, Sixth Season at ECU (78-85)
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
ECU comes into this game pretty hot having won two straight games and losing by one point at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Their wins were against Southeastern Oklahoma State and most recently, Oklahoma Baptist.
 
The Tigers average 63.3 points per game while surrendering 66.4 points per game defensively. They are also getting outrebounded by ECU 37.8 rebounds per game to 35.1 rebounds per game.
 
ECU is led by Sam Schwab and Kendall Schulte who are both scoring at least 12.0 points per game.
 
Schwab is scoring 12.2 points per game and leads the team in rebounds per game at 8.5. Schulte is averaging 12.0 points per contest while snagging 3.3 boards per game and she shoots 39.3 percent from downtown.
 
SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 16-6
2019-20 GAC Record: 13-5
Head Coach: Darin Grover, 15th Season at SEOSU (229-184)
 
SCOUTING THE SAVAGE STORM
The Savage Storm are tied for the top spot in the conference right now and have already clinched a GAC Tournament berth. They are coming off a win against Northwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday, 67-61, and before their meeting with UAM on Saturday, they will play at Southern Arkansas on Thursday.
 
Three players average at least 11.0 points per game in Katie Webb, Kamryn Cantwell and Briley Moon.
 
Webb is the team's top performer averaging 18.8 points per game while also leading the team in rebounds at 7.4 per game.
 
Cantwell is scoring 14.8 points per contest shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from downtown, while Moon is scoring 11.0 points per game leading the team in three-point shooting percentage at 48.4.
 
UP NEXT
UAM will begin the first of its final two road games on Thursday, February 27th at Oklahoma Baptist University. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.