Another decisive fourth quarter proved costly for the University of Arkansas at Monticello in women’s basketball Saturday.
Henderson State outscored UAM 18-15 in the fourth quarter, proving the difference in a 79-76 Reddies victory Saturday at Steelman Field House in Monticello. The loss is the eighth straight for the Cotton Blossoms (6-18, 1-17 Great American), who have lost seven games by six or fewer points this season, including five games during this skid.
Jena Warden scored 23 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for the Blossoms. She missed the potential tying three-pointer with 2 seconds left.
Henderson State outmuscled UAM in the paint, where the Reddies (14-8, 10-8) outscored the Blossoms 44-36. The score was tied 10 times and the lead changed nine times, with Henderson State leading 42-40 at halftime.
Natalie Cardenas led the Reddies with 24 points, Grayson Fairless had 20 points and eight rebounds, and Brynlee Huggins scored 16 points for the Reddies, who made 28 of 56 (50%) from the field and 17 of 27 free throws.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
A 3-for-15 three-point shooting day hindered UAM, which made 30 of 64 (46.9%) from the floor and 13 of 17 free throws. Alyssa Batton had 19 points and Alindsey Long threw in 12 for the Blossoms.
MEN: Henderson State 62, UAM 48
Also Saturday in Monticello, UAM struggled to make up a 10-point halftime deficit and lost its fourth game in a row.
Ashton Price scored 16 points and Isaac Jackson had 12 for the Boll Weevils (9-15, 5-13 Great American), who trailed 32-22 after one half. Xavier Owens scored 18 points and Zaveion Okoh 17 for the Reddies (10-14, 7-11).
Henderson State, which never trailed, made 22 of 43 (51.2%) from the floor and thrived at the free throw line, making 14 of 15. UAM went 15 for 49 (30.6%) from the field and made just 13 of 20 free throws.
UAM will start its last out-of-state road swing Thursday when the men’s and women’s teams visit Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford. The women’s tipoff time is 5:30 p.m., with the men to follow.
UAM will then play at Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva on Saturday, play at Harding in Searcy on Feb. 26 and close out the regular season at home against Ouachita Baptist on Feb. 28.