Game 9: Arkansas-Monticello (5-3, 0-2 GAC) vs. Harding University (5-2, 2-0 GAC)
Thursday, Dec. 12 | 5:30 p.m. | Searcy, Ark. (Rhodes-Reaves Field House)
Radio: None
Live Stats | Live Video | Lady Bison Roster | Series History
 
Game 10: Arkansas-Monticello vs. Ouachita Baptist University (3-2, 0-2 GAC)
Saturday, Dec. 14 | 1:00 p.m. | Monticello, Ark. (Steelman Fieldhouse)
Radio: 93.7 KHBM (Jimmy Sledge)
Live Stats | Live Video | Tiger Roster | Series History
 
2024-25 Arkansas-Monticello Blossoms Roster | GAC Women's Basketball

Social Media | X Accounts: @UAMsports & @uamwbkb |  All scoring information and in-game updates.

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MONTICELLO, Ark. - After dropping their first two GAC matches of the year, Arkansas at Monticello's Women's Basketball team is looking to rebound with a pair of GAC contests this week. The Cotton Blossoms will start on the road Thursday, Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m., as they square up against the Lady Bisons of Harding University inside Rhodes-Reaves Fieldhouse, before taking on the Tigers of Ouachita Baptist at home, in the first home GAC game of the 2024-25 campaign, on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 1:00 p.m. inside Steelman Fieldhouse.

The Blossoms are not only looking for their first GAC win of the year when they take on Harding but their first win against the Lady Bisons since their 76-71 win in January of 2021.

"We are continuing to work and get better," said Head Coach David Midlick. "We will need to as we face two really tough in-state opponents."

Below you will find important information regarding tickets, game matchups, and social media links to keep up with the Blossoms.

UAM TICKETS

• Tickets may be purchased on game day at the gate.
• General Admission - $5 (East Side Bench Seating - Sections F & G (Home Team) | Section H (Visiting Team))
• Children 12 and Under - Free*
• Senior Adults 65 yrs and up - Free*
• UAM Faculty and Staff - Free*
• * East Side Bench Seating ONLY

LAST MEETING
Harding University - The Lady Bison won the last meeting by a narrow final score of 66-65 in Searcy in February 2024. Bailey Harris led the Arkansas-Monticello with 18 points, going 7-14 on total field goals, 1-3 on threes, and 3-3 from the free throw line. She also contributed four rebounds in the afternoon, with two offensive and two defensive rebounds. She also contributed an assist, a block, and a steal in her 34 minutes played. Alyssia Thorne followed close behind, posting 16 points of her own on the game. She hit 7-8 field goals and 6-7 free throws in the game while giving the Blossoms eight defensive rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Kelsey Blakemore and Haleigh Crews were the final Blossom in double-digits, scoring 12 and 11 points against the Bisons. Blakemore hit 4-6 field goals, 2-3 three-pointers, and 2-2 shots from the line with three defensive rebounds and four steals on the night. Crews connected on 5-13 field goals and 1-1 free throws with five rebounds.

Ouachita Baptist University - The Tigers proved to be the winners, after winning the last meeting in overtime by a single point, 84-83. Bailey Harris was once again the leading scorer for Arkansas-Monticello with 21 points, going 8-19 on total field goals, 1-5 on threes, and 4-7 from the free throw line. She grabbed seven defensive rebounds on the afternoon, also contributing three assists, a block, and a steal in her 36 minutes played. Alindsey Long followed close behind, posting 17 points of her own in the game. She hit 6-9 field goals, 3-4 three-pointers, and 6-7 free throws in the game while giving the Blossoms two offensive rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Kelsey Blakemore and Alyssia Thorne were the final Blossom in double-digits, scoring 12 and 10 points against the Tigers, respectively. Blakemore hit 4-7 field goals, 1-3 three-pointers, and 3-3 shots from the line with a team-leading eight rebounds, three steals, and a steal on the day. Thorne connected on 4-11 field goals and 2-3 shots from beyond the arc with two defensive rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Harding University - Arkansas at Monticello trails the Lady Bisons in the all-time record 32-49. Both teams first met in the 1984-85 season with the Blossoms taking the first 4 victories, starting with a commanding 84-39 win. The largest margin of victory came in the 1988-89 season with a 98-39 win. The Cotton Blossoms are currently in a drought having lost the last eight meetings, half of the longest drought that they had faced between 1/19/2013 and 2/7/2019. With a win on Thursday, Dec. 12 it will claim the first victory over Harding for Coach Midlick, and an end to the drought. Combined through 81 games played the green and white has recorded 5569 points, averaging 68.75 points per game.

Ouachita Baptist University - The Cottom Blossoms currently lead the Tigers with an overall record of 51-40, dating back to their first meeting on February 5, 1976. UAM would win 11 straight meetings between 2/5/1976 and 2/3/1981. The largest margin of victory for the Blossoms over OBU came in the spring of 1990 with a final score of 120-60. Through 91 games played the ladies in green and white have scored 6,691 points against the Tigers, averaging 73.53 points per game. 

LAST TIME OUT FOR UAM

• UAM went 0-2 last week with an 88-51 loss to the Crimson Storm of Southern Nazarene on Tuesday, Dec. 3, and a 70-64 loss to the Bison of Oklahoma Baptist on Thursday, Dec. 5.
  • True freshman Alyssa Batton recorded her first career start as a Blossom vs. Southern Nazarene.

BLOSSOMS BY THE NUMBERS

• Arkansas-Monticello is averaging through 8 games played:
  • 72.9 points on the offensive and 62.6 points on defense
  • 0.391% in field goals
  • 0.280% on 3-point FG on 182 attempts, with 51 made.
  • 0.750% on Free Throws, 40.9% on combined team rebounds
  • with a 19.5% on turnovers with a 4.38 margin

GAME RECAPS and HEAD COACH COMMENTS
After the conclusion of each game, Blossom Basketball will have a release posted to uamsports.com, X, and Facebook, which will give a recap of the game as well as coaches' comments. They can be found on the schedule page as a clickable link after the end of each game, or on UAM Sports social media accounts. Home matches will have a head coach interview uploaded to UAMSports YouTube channel within 24 hours following the match.

UAM CLEAR BAG POLICY
As a reminder, UAM has a clear bag policy for all on-campus athletic events. Please refer to the graphic below for clarification.



How to follow the Blossoms: For more information on Arkansas-Monticello Women's Basketball, visit www.uamsports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X and Instagram.

#GoBlossoms | #BlossomNation