Alindsey Long and Alyssa Batton combined to score half of the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s points in a 71-59 women’s basketball victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday at Steelman Field House in Monticello.
The win was the first in Great American Conference play for the Cotton Blossoms (6-10, 1-9 Great American), who ended a nine-game losing streak.
Long, a senior from Memphis, scored 23 points and made 9 of 15 shots from the field in 38 minutes of work. Batton, a sophomore from Hutto, Texas, had 20 points. She made four three-pointers and went 4 for 5 in free throws.
UAM, which led 34-27 at halftime, never trailed and was only tied twice, both times in the first quarter. The Blossoms’ bench had 17 points of 16 Southwestern turnovers, but the Blossoms committed 24 turnovers that led to 17 points for the Bulldogs (6-9, 4-6).
The Blossoms shot 24 for 55 from the floor for 43.6%, making 7 of 19 from three-point range, and went 16 for 21 at the foul line. The Bulldogs made 22 of 54 (40.7%) from the field but were cold from the perimeter (2 for 11) and made just 13 of 25 free throws.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Keira Williams had 10 points for UAM. Sincere Jackson led Southwestern Oklahoma State with 18 points, followed by Landry Allen with 13 and Elle Papahronis with 12 points.
MEN: Southwestern 74, UAM 62
Also Saturday the Boll Weevils never recovered from a 36-21 halftime deficit and suffered their second straight defeat.
The Bulldogs’ bench outscored the Weevils’ 23-5, and Southwestern Oklahoma State (6-10, 3-7 Great American) shot 23 for 46 (50%) as a team while never trailing. The Bulldogs connected on 10 of 17 three-point attempts, with Kray Rogers making all four of his.
Ty Frierson had 20 points, four steals and three assists to lead Southwestern. Rogers scored 14 points and Elijah Jordan had 10 points off the bench.
For UAM (7-9, 3-7), Isaac Jackson totaled 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists; Ashton Price had 17 points; and Josh Smith finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. The Weevils did not shoot as well as a team (18 for 49, 36.7%) but converted 20 of 26 free throws.
The Boll Weevils will close this three-game homestand with a rivalry game against Southern Arkansas at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The women’s game will tip off at 5:30 p.m.