Box Score MONTICELLO, Ark.—The Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs rallied from a 15-point to tie host Arkansas-Monticello in the final minutes of Saturday's Gulf South Conference West Division opener, but the Cotton Blossoms finished the game on an 11-3 run to claim a 70-62 win.

The Cotton Blossoms (5-8, 1-0 GSC West) never trailed, building a 23-13 lead in the first half.  The Lady Bucs pulled within four points at 28-24 on a Sheena DeBose (Tunica, Miss./Rosa Fort HS) bucket with 3:10 remaining, but UAM went on a 13-2 run to take a 41-26 lead with 18:44 remaining.

The Lady Bucs (7-6, 0-1) turned to DeBose, who scored seven straight points to cut the deficit to 41-33 with 16:47 remaining.  After UAM built it back to 52-40, a Normanique Johnson (Olive Branch, Miss./Olive Branch HS) triple sparked a 9-0 run that pulled the Lady Bucs within three, eventualy tying the game at 59 on a Ty Harris (Memphis, Tenn./White Station HS) jumper with 4:18 remaining before the Cotton Blossoms pulled away in the final minutes.

DeBose scored 24 points to lead the Lady Bucs.  Caitlin House (Memphis, Tenn./Briarcrest Christian HS) scored 13 and grabbed 10 rebounds with two steals, while Johnson scored 11 points with six rebounds and six assists.

Alex Hart led UAM with 24 points and three assists.  Channon Haywood scored 15 points with eight rebounds, while Chelsea Johnson scored 12.  Jerica Hubbard added eight points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

UAM out-rebounded the Lady Bucs 40-34, including a 16-10 edge in offensive boards.  They forced 16 turnovers while committing 14.

Both teams struggled from the floor, with the Lady Bucs shooting 41.8 percent (23-of-55) to UAM's 41.3 percent (26-of-63).

The Lady Bucs return home Thursday night as they host No. 4 Arkansas Tech at 5 p.m.