MAGNOLIA, Ark. — Student-Appreciation Night has come and go inside the W.T. Watson Center, as Mulerider Women's Basketball (11-12 | 7-10 GAC) has broken a five-game losing streak with a much-needed home victory against in-state rival Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms (6-17 | 1-16 GAC). Southern Arkansas went on to defeat Blossoms in a defensive grueler of a matchup, with the Blue and Gold coming out on top 56-48.
While it was a defensive showdown, the Muleriders had a pair of players with double-digit figures, as freshmen Kennedy Moss (14) and Hope Bump (13) did so. Leading the Muleriders in rebounds by a vast margin was senior guard Marlee Bright, as the Glenwood, Arkansas local recorded 12 boards in the outing, and nearly was responsible for another double-double with eight points.
Early on, the two rivals went back-and-forth, with there being three lead changes within the first five minutes. The Blossoms went on to claim four-point advantage with their third three-pointer in the first seven minutes, going up 11-7. Following those points by UAM, SAU went on a 6-0 run to reclaim the lead and go up 13-11 heading into the second period.
The second quarter started with the Blossoms putting the pressure on the Muleriders, with the unit going up five points, after going on a 11-2 stretch in the first six minutes. Following UAM going up 22-15, Southern Arkansas finally responded a 10-0 stretch for the final four minutes of the half, with Shiloh Fletcher capping off the run with a pair of free throws, 25-22.
The Blue and Gold went on to account for its largest lead of the night at five points with a Crawley made jumper. Not long after, UAM tallied a 6-0 stretch to overtake the advantage again, 28-27. Following a Johnna Brockman free throw to tie, the two groups scored back-to-back-to-back threes, that had the Blossoms end up on top at 34-31. The two then knotted up with a 4-4 run, still having the Blossoms lead by three, 38-35. Just under a minute left in the period, Elena Lijo-Rodriguez dropped in a layup to bring the game within one, 38-37, going into the fourth period.
The fourth period saw a turnaround for the Muleriders following a UAM free throw, as SAU then went on a 11-2 run to overtake the Cotton Blossoms with a 49-41 lead with five minutes left in the game. The Muleriders nine-point lead was briefly stretched to 11 for a game-high lead. Despite UAM attempting to comeback late in the matchup, the Blue and Gold would not allow the Cotton Blossoms to bring themselves back in the contest, with the Muleriders winning 56-48 to sweep Arkansas-Monticello on the season.
Up Next:
Saturday is Date Night in the W.T., in which the Muleriders will take on the 11th-ranked Harding Lady Bisons inside the W.T. Watson Center at 3:00 PM on February 14.
