MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team will the road for a pair of Great American Conference contests with Arkansas opponents Harding University and Henderson State University. Tipoff at Harding will be at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday and on Saturday the Blossoms will play at HSU at 1 p.m.
 
COVERAGE LINKS
UAM PREVIEW VIDEO WITH GREG LONG AND MACKENZIE TILLMAN
UAM GAME NOTES
UAM AT HARDING UNIVERSITY – 2/6 – 5:30 P.M. – LIVE STATS, LIVE VIDEO
UAM AT HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY – 2/8 – 1 P.M. – LIVE STATS, LIVE VIDEO
 
THURSDAY'S GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Harding University
Date: February 6, 2020
Location: Searcy, Arkansas – Rhodes-Reaves Field House
In-Game Updates: Twitter (@UAMsports)
Last Played: November 21, 2019 in Monticello (W, 65-62)
 
SATURDAY'S GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Henderson State University
Date: February 8, 2020
Location: Arkadelphia, Arkansas – Wells Center
In-Game Updates: Twitter (@UAMsports)
Last Played: December 14, 2019 in Monticello (W, 77-65)
 
UAM PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 13-7
2019-20 GAC Record: 8-6
Head Coach: Greg Long, First Season (13-7)
 
SCOUTING THE BLOSSOMS
Last time out, UAM lost at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 68-60. It was the second of two losses on the road for the Blossoms.
 
UAM has previously played both Harding and Henderson State earlier this year resulting in a pair of wins. The Weevils defeated the Lady Bisons at home back in November for their first win against a nationally ranked opponent in the GAC era. As for Henderson State, they defeated the Reddies in their last home game of 2019.
 
UAM is one of the top defenses in NCAA Division II. They currently are 26th in the country in steals per game (11.3), 29th in total steals (225), 35th in turnovers forced per game (20.8) and 35th in scoring defense (57.8 ppg). Their scoring defense could possibly break a GAC record at the end of the season as they rank first in the conference in that category.
 
Offensively, the Blossoms average 67.3 points per game and have a +9.5-scoring margin. As a team, they are shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 27.9 percent from three-point range. They also shoot 68.3 percent from the free-throw line and dish out 11.6 assists per contest.
 
Pacing the offensive attack for the Blossoms are Berniezha Tidwell and Mackenzie Tillman. Tidwell is scoring 16.9 points per game offensively while dishing out 3.5 assists per game. She also averages 7.0 rebounds per contest. Tillman is scoring 10.9 points per contest with 1.2 assists per game. She shoots 50.0 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from downtown.
 
Tidwell is also one of the top defenders in DII ranking fourth in steals per game (3.5) and eighth in total steals (67).
 
UAM's second-best rebounder is Mekaylan Hicks. She comes in averaging 5.3 rebounds while also leading the team in field goal percentage (53.2).
 
Kayla Bradley has also been solid this season averaging 7.7 points per game while also ranking second to Tidwell in assists per game at 2.9 and steals per game at 2.7.
 
HARDING UNIVERSITY PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 13-7
2019-20 GAC Record: 10-4
Head Coach: Tim Kirby, 15th Season Overall (293-142)
 
SCOUTING THE LADY BISONS
After beginning their conference schedule a bit rocky, the Lady Bisons have won six games in a row now dating back to January 16th and are 9-1 at home. They carry a 13-7 overall mark and a 10-4 conference record which is tied for first in the league.
 
HU has four players that are averaging double-figures on offense this season. Kellie Lampo (13.4), Carissa Caples (13.1), Cheyenne Brown (11.2) and Jordan Elder (10.3). Lampo still leads in the category despite being done for the season due to injury. 
 
Lampo was nearly averaging a double-double this season leading the roster in rebounds at 8.1 while shooting 47.5 percent from the field.

Caples takes the reigns as the leading scorer totaling 262 points and is shooting 42.7 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from downtown. 
 
HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 14-6
2019-20 GAC Record: 9-5
Head Coach: Jill Thomas, 11th Season Overall (163-140)
 
SCOUTING THE REDDIES
The Reddies entered Thursday with 14-6 overall record and a 9-5 record tied for fifth in the PSAC with the standings being so tight at this point in the season. They were also undefeated at home thus far in 2020 with a 9-0 mark.
 
HSU is scoring 77.4 points per game while holding opponents to score 68.9 points per game for a +8.5-margin. They are shooting 40.8 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from downtown as one of the better offensive teams in the league.
 
Prior to Thursday's games, Hailey Estes and Karrington Whaley were the team's top scorers averaging 14.6 points and 12.8 points per game, respectively. Estes is averaging a double-double per game with 10.2 boards per contest.
 
On Thursday, the Reddies will have played Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Arkansas.
 
UP NEXT
Following UAM's pair of road games this week, they will return home for their final stretch of home games of the regular season with a matchup on February 13th against Southern Arkansas at 5:30 p.m.