MONTICELLO, Ark. – Three Lady Muleriders scored in double digits, but the University of Arkansas-Monticello never trailed in the Great American Conference contest as the Cotton Blossoms refused to surrender a lead in their 77-69 victory on Thursday evening inside Steelman Field House.
 
Southern Arkansas (4-12, 2-8 GAC) trailed by six at halftime and cut the Cotton Blossom (8-7, 6-4 GAC) lead to three with just under two and half minutes to play in the game courtesy of a jumper by Allie Wade, but a Tori Nichols added a basket and four free throws from Jordan Goforth within the last 1:31 kept the UAM lead intact.
 
Through the first 10 minutes of action, the Cotton Blossoms built several eight point leads but a Tierra Tucker three pointer followed by a Miranda Grier fast break bucket pulled Southern Arkansas within one possession, 22-19, at the 8:53 mark of the first half.
 
Over the next five and half plus minutes, Arkansas-Monticello would push their lead to a game-high 11 at the 3:07 mark, but the Lady Muleriders would again fight back to close the deficit before the intermission.
 
Rosa Bryant added three down the stretch and Shabr'an Richardson scored twice to send the Lady Muleriders into the half down six, 36-30.
 
Multiple Lady Muleriders got into the scoring act during the first nine minutes of the second half as seven different players, led by Richardson's five, scored to keep Southern Arkansas within striking distance, 55-50, with 10:52 remaining.
 
As has been the case throughout the season, Southern Arkansas began to make it very close down the stretch. Facing a nine point deficit with 6:28 remaining, Tucker scored two quick baskets to pull SAU within 5, 68-63 at the 5:07 mark.
 
Almost a three minute scoring drought by both teams would end at the 2:28 mark as Allie Wade connected on a jumper as Southern Arkansas, down 68-65, continued to apply pressure late. A three pointer from the Cotton Blossoms would push the lead back to six, but again Wade answered with another bucket that unfortunately ended the scoring for the Lady Muleriders as the Cotton Blossoms took advantage from the charity stripe (4-for-4; final 22 seconds).
 
Chanel Miller led Southern Arkansas with 13 points. Bryant had a game high 10 rebounds and logged a team-high 34 minutes as she finished two points shy of a double double. Tucker's 11 points came on 5-of-7 shooting. Richardson rounded out the double digit scoring as she dropped 11 points in a slim ten minutes of action off of the bench.
 
Southern Arkansas will continue their in-state road swing as they head to Clark County for Saturday, Jan. 24 clash with Ouachita Baptist. The Lady Muleriders won the first meeting between these two teams, 69-67 inside the W.T. Watson Athletic Center. Tip-off from inside Bill Vining Arena is slated for 1 p.m.