Box Score MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women's basketball team drops its first game of the 2021 season with a 67-65 loss at home to Williams Baptist College. Mackenzie Tillman led all scorers with 18 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists in the defeat.

The Blossoms jumped out to the early lead dominating Williams Baptist around the rim shooting 69 percent inside the paint including 10 second chance points in the first half. UAM also knocked down 7-of-11 from the free throw to help build a 33-19 lead at the half.

After UAM held the Eagles to 31 percent from the floor in the first half, Williams Baptist found its stroke in the second half to spark the comeback. The Eagles took advantage of turnovers and timely threes down the stretch to help cut into the UAM lead.

UAM continued to hold off the Eagles into the fourth quarter but a poor shooting performance of just 27.8 percent from the field in the quarter opened the door for Williams Baptist. The teams traded buckets late resulting in six lead changes in the final five and a half minutes.

The Blossoms took their final lead of the game on a layup by Tillman after she secured her eighth rebound of the game with 1:28 left in the fourth. Moments later the Eagles would take the lead back on their fourth made three of the quarter. After Williams Baptist made one more free throw with less than two seconds to play, UAM got one more shot to win or tie but came up shy on a last-second three pointer.

UAM had ten players finish in the scoring column with Tillman leading the way on 8-of-13 shooting for 18 points.

The Blossoms outrebounded Williams Baptist 38-35 generating 18 second chance points.

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UAM will be back in play on Thursday to open Great American Conference play against Arkansas Tech University at the Steelman Field House at 5:30 p.m.