BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team will play in the Great American Conference Championship game after they defeated Arkansas Tech University in the GAC Semi-Finals on Saturday from the Bruin Field House in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 72-57. The Blossoms will play in the GAC Championship game for the first time in history.
 
"What an amazing night for these young ladies. I know I said last night was the biggest win for this program, but this one topped it," said head coach Greg Long. "It was a complete team effort. I am so proud of this team," he continued. "We have one more to go and we are going to give it everything we have."
 
Right from the beginning, UAM took control of the contest jumping out to an early lead. Five minutes in, the Blossoms were ahead, 12-4 after back-to-back baskets from Berniezha Tidwell and Mekaylan Hicks. Pamela Bethel got in on the action later hitting a basket to give UAM a 19-7 advantage into the second quarter.
 
To start the second, the Blossoms continued their offensive success getting the lead to 20 points after a couple free throws from Kyiah Julian made it 27-7.
 
By the time halftime rolled around, the Blossoms had a commanding 32-point lead, 49-17. They finished the first half shooting 62.5 percent from the field and were a perfect from downtown, 5-for-5.
 
In the third, the Blossoms let off the gas pedal just a bit as Arkansas Tech cut into the deficit getting it back to a 22-point UAM lead at the end of the quarter, 58-36.
 
As we entered the fourth, they picked it back up, and kept them Golden Suns at bay. Tidwell hit a jumper to make it 63-44, and later, Kayla Bradley got to the line to push the lead back to 20, 64-44. They eventually got it back to a 24-point advantage at 72-48 before Tech went on a run.
 
However, Tech's run was not nearly enough as UAM went on to win, by a final score of 72-57.
 
Tidwell finished with a double-double scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. She also had three assists and three steals.
 
Jaida Muhammad and Dezirae King also finished in double-figures with 11 points apiece.
 
The win was UAM's 20th of the season as they are now 20-10. It's the first time UAM has tallied at least 20 wins in a season since 1997-98 when they had 23. It's also the first championship game for the Blossoms since 2008-09 when they played in the Gulf South Championship game.
 
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The conference championship game will be played on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. from the Bruin Field House in Bartlesville, Oklahoma against the first-seeded Southeastern Oklahoma State University Savage Storm.