Following a 13-point halftime lead, the University of Arkansas at Monticello avoided a second-half collapse and made key baskets in the clutch to hold off East Central University for a 59-53 win in women’s basketball Thursday at Steelman Fieldhouse in Monticello.
The game was moved up a few hours due to the threat of winter weather in southeast Arkansas.
UAM (8-5, 3-4 Great American) outscored East Central 19-6 in the second quarter after a 12-all tie and expanded the lead to 36-20 on a Bailey Harris 3-pointer with 8:18 left in the third quarter. Over the next 5 minutes, East Central (4-7, 2-5) went on an 11-0 run before the Cotton Blossoms scored 6 unanswered and ended the quarter with a 46-37 lead.
East Central pulled within 2 points on two occasions in the fourth, last at 50-48 with 2:14 to go. Kennedee Shelton then went 1 for 2 at the line, and Haleigh Crews made a jumper give UAM at 53-48 lead, a margin that grew to 55-48 with two Nicole Weaver free throws.
UAM made 6 of 8 free throws in the final 50 seconds to hold off the Tigers, led by Katie Edelen’s 19 points and 4 rebounds. Edelen converted 10 of 12 free throws.
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Makenzie Herman scored 10 points, and Jayden Weiberg and Claira Dannefer had 9 apiece in the loss.
Bailey Harris and Haleigh Crews each scored 12 points to lead UAM. Camille Pritchard and Shelton each scored 9 points.
MEN: UAM 66, EAST CENTRAL 61, OT
Also in Monticello, the Boll Weevils (4-9, 1-6) needed overtime to win their first Great American Conference game of the season and break a 7-game losing streak.
UAM trailed 53-49 before Jamir Turner made 2 free throws with 50 seconds left. Following an East Central turnover, Alex Brogdon tied the game with a layup with 28 seconds remaining.
Hudson Linsenmeyer missed a jump shot that otherwise would have won the game for East Central (4-9, 1-6) at the buzzer. In overtime, Seth Grandberry scored 8 of UAM’s 13 points, hitting a 3-pointer and 5 of 6 free throws all in the final 55 seconds.
Grandberry scored 19 points and totaled 8 rebounds, Turner had 16 points and 5 rebounds, and Brogdon totaled 9 points and 6 rebounds for the Weevils, who led 24-22 at halftime. Bishop Jones scored 26 points (10 of 13 free throws) and Godsgift Ezedinma scored 15 for East Central.
UAM will host Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday, starting with the women’s game at 1 p.m.