[February 2, 2008]

By: Houston Taylor

MONTICELLO, Ark. – Arkansas-Monticello never trailed, in walloping Southern Arkansas, 76-44, in Gulf South Conference action Saturday at Steelman Fieldhouse.

The Cotton Blossoms jumped out to a 10-2 advantage before holding a 14-7 margin at 13:01. That would be the last time the Lady Muleriders were within single digits as UAM rolled off a 19-0 run from there for a 33-7 spread at 7:41. SAU finally broke the drought and got in double digits 20 ticks later on a three-pointer from Ellana White. Andrea DuBose put Arkansas-Monticello up 46-15 with 1:27 left, before settling for a 46-17 halftime lead. Gemma Gibson poured it on Southern Arkansas, getting 12 of her game-high 17 points in the first half.

It got no better in the final frame for the Lady Muleriders, as the closest they came was 55-33 at 11:48 on two Blair Jordan free throws. The Cotton Blossoms were up, 66-34, at 7:15 on two freebies from Tasha Owens and held their largest lead of the game at 76-42 on a jumper from Shakia Sanders with 27 seconds remaining. Goldie White made the final margin on a lay-up at 14 seconds, giving her 10 points, the only SAU player in double-figures.

Gibson was 6 of 11 from the field in picking up her 17 points. She hit 3 of 5 treys and was 2 of 2 at the free throw line. Gibson also picked up a double-double, grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds from her guard spot. LaToya Josey added 12 points, and Sanders finished with 10.

White took only eight shots on the night, converting three, missed her only three attempt, and hit 4 of 5 at the charity stripe. Kayla Jones had nine points and pulled down eight rebounds.

Southern Arkansas attempted only 45 shots to UAM’s 73, hitting 15 for 33.3 percent. Arkansas-Monticello converted on 31 from the floor for 42.5 percent.

The Cotton Blossoms pounded the Lady Muleriders on the boards, 51-27, and got 22 second-chance points to SAU’s two. Turnovers decimated Southern Arkansas also as they committed 25, which UAM converted into 26 points, while getting 15 them self.

The Lady Muleriders, dropping their 11th straight, remain winless in GSC play at 0-7 and are 4-15 overall. Arkansas-Monticello improves to 11-9 and 4-3 in league action.

SAU returns home Thursday to begin the second round of conference play, hosting Christian Brothers in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off. The Lady Buccaneers won the first meeting, 61-43, in Memphis.