MONTICELLO, Ark. – The Muleriders traveled to Drew County for the annual first matchup with the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms on Thursday evening with a need for a turnaround in the season. The Blossoms needed a much larger turnaround, and they might have earned just that as Southern Arkansas fell to UAM inside the Steelman Fieldhouse by a score of 63-72. With the loss, the Muleriders fall to 9-8 overall with a 4-8 record in the Great American Conference.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Addy Tremie led Southern Arkansas' scoring efforts thanks to her four made three-pointers of her eight attempts. Tremie recorded an 18-point ballgame shooting 6-16 from the field. Layla Carter accounted for her second double-digit scoring match as she was responsible for a career-high 14 points in Monticello. Jessica Clemons added six more rebounds to her total (3 OREB | 3 DREB). From the charity stripe, the Muleriders went 14-16 with not one player attempting more than two free throws. Southern Arkansas tied the season's second lowest for steals in a game with 10, in which if SAU recorded ten or less steals they are 2-4.
 
THE GAME
Arkansas-Monticello put the pressure on the Muleriders early just as previous opponents have. The Cotton Blossoms jumped out to an early 21-10 lead over their in-state rival.
In the second period, UAM's lead was cut down to a seven-point difference with just under three minutes to-go in the half, but would be expanded back out to a 13-point advantage due to the Blossoms' 7-3 run to end the first half up 34-21.
The Muleriders looked to attempt another comeback after the break as they shortened the deficit to seven once more. Arkansas-Monticello then made a crucial three-pointer to go up ten, which would then be followed by 13-5 Blossoms run to go up 50-32. The UAM 18-point was the largest lead in the game, but would soon be cut down to a ten-point game entering the final quarter of play (SAU 44-54 UAM).
The Cotton Blossoms would quickly advance their lead to 15-points, but it last shortly as Southern Arkansas made the changes necessary and closed the game down to two-points with a 12-2 stretch by the Muleriders. The SAU comeback was short-lived with Arkansas-Monticello following up with an 11-4 run to close the game out.
 
Southern Arkansas continues its tour around the GAC on Saturday to face-off with longtime foe Henderson State at 1:00 p.m. For more information on Mulerider Women's Basketball, check out www.MuleriderAthletics.com or look us up @muleridersports on X, Facebook, and Instagram.