MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team will get set for its first Great American Conference Tournament appearance since 2016-17 with a first-round matchup against third-seeded Southwestern Oklahoma State University from the Bruin Field House in Bartlesville, Oklahoma at 8 p.m. on Friday.
COVERAGE LINKS
GAC TOURNAMENT BRACKET
PREVIEW INTERVIEW FEATURING GREG LONG
UAM GAME NOTES VS. SWOSU
#6 UAM VS.
#3 SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY –
LIVE VIDEO,
LIVE STATS
FRIDAY'S GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Southwestern Oklahoma State University Lady Bulldogs
Date: March 6, 2020
Location: Bartlesville, Oklahoma – Bruin Field House
In-Game Updates: Twitter (@UAMsports)
Last Played: February 1, 2020 in Weatherford (L, 68-60)
UAM PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 18-10
2019-20 GAC Record: 13-9
Head Coach:
Greg Long, First Season (18-10)
SCOUTING THE BLOSSOMS
UAM will play in the first round of the Great American Conference Championship Tournament for the first time since 2016-17 in a matchup with Southwestern Oklahoma State University at 8 p.m. on Friday from Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
The Blossoms did not record a victory against the Lady Bulldogs in either of their two meetings this season.
In the tournament, SWOSU is listed as the third seed and UAM is listed as the sixth seed.
The winner of Friday's contest will play the winner of the second-seeded Harding University and seventh-seeded Arkansas Tech University matchup.
UAM's head coach
Greg Long has had an outstanding first year. His 18 wins are tied for the fourth most in either NCAA Division I or II, and he is tied for second in DII.
UAM got to the tournament this year thanks to its defense this season as they rank 47th NCAA Division II in scoring defense (59.0 ppg). They are also 24th in total steals (310) and steals per game (11.1), and 34th in turnovers forced per game (20.5).
Offensively, the Blossoms are scoring 66.5 points per game and have a +7.5-scoring margin. They are shooting 41.3 percent from the field and 28.7 percent from downtown. They are outrebounding opponents 37.9 to 34.0 for a +3.9-margin.
On Wednesday, two UAM players were honored at the GAC awards banquet.
Berniezha Tidwell earned GAC Defender of the Year honors and was a First Team All-GAC selection, while
Pamela Bethel was a Distinguished Scholar Athlete.
Tidwell ranks fifth in the country in steals per game (3.5) and total steals (95). Her 95 total steals are the second highest in a single season in GAC history and if she finishes the season averaging more than 3.0 steals per game, she will have averaged the most steals per game in conference history.
UAM is led by Tidwell offensively as well and on the glass as she is scoring 15.6 points per game, grabbing 6.9 rebounds per game and is also leading the team in assists per game at 3.8.
Mackenzie Tillman is second on the roster in scoring averaging 10.3 points per game shooting 47.4 percent from the field and shooting 79.7 percent from the free-throw line.
SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 21-7
2019-20 GAC Record: 16-6
Head Coach: Kelsi Musick, 11th Season at SWOSU (212-115)
SCOUTING THE LADY BULLDOGS
SWOSU comes into this tournament having beaten UAM twice this season and is also one of the better teams on defense in the country ranking sixth in turnover margin (+8.5), seventh in steals per game (12.8) and 22nd in turnovers forced per game (21.4).
The Lady Bulldogs had six players earn All-Conference awards at the banquet on Friday including getting Freshman of the Year honors for Makyra Tramble and first team honors for Tyra Aska.
Tramble leads the team in scoring and rebounds this season averaging 15.8 points per game and 7.7 boards per contest.
Aska is second on the roster in scoring averaging 11.4 points per game and third in rebounds snagging 7.0 per contest.
