MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team took a tough loss against East Central University from the Steelman Field House in Monticello, Arkansas on Thursday falling, 70-60. The Blossoms fell behind right from the start and could not fight their way back into the game in the second half.
 
From the start, it seemed that the Tigers had control of the contest. ECU jumped out to a four-point lead at 16-12 to conclude the first quarter.
 
The Blossoms opened the second by taking a four-point advantage after Mekaylan Hicks and Dezirae King got a couple of buckets, but ECU re-took the lead after a three-pointer was made from Hannah Ladd with 4:57 remaining in the period. ECU then went on a run and took a double-digit lead into halftime, 36-24.
 
The Tigers continued to put on the pressure at the start of the second half as they stretched their lead all the way to 21 with 2:26 remaining in the third. A little later, Pamela Bethel went to the line and hit a free throw, but the Tigers got a basket back and took a 57-34 advantage into the fourth.
 
UAM cut into the lead a bit early in the fourth and did narrow it under 15 points left in the final minutes. Hicks later hit the last basket of the game, but it was not enough as the Blossoms fell, 70-60.
 
With the loss, UAM is now 16-9 overall and 11-8 in Great American Conference play. Unfortunately, Northwestern Oklahoma State University won on Thursday, so UAM will have to wait until Saturday to try and make the tournament. A UAM win or a NWOSU loss punches the Blossoms' ticket to Bartlesville, Oklahoma for the GAC Tournament.
 
Hicks led UAM in scoring with 12 points while also adding six rebounds.
 
Nina Kizzee also was in double-figures with 10 points and four rebounds.
 
UP NEXT
UAM will host Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday from the Steelman Field House in Monticello. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.