Box Score MONTICELLO, Ark.—Host Arkansas-Monticello out-scored the Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs 17-2 at the free throw line in a 61-55 victory Thursday night.
The Cotton Blossoms (4-4) never trailed, but the margin never exceeded 10 points. UAM pushed its lead to 10 for the first time on back-to-back Taylor Clark buckets with 1:00 remaining in the first half, but the Lady Bucs (2-7) answered with eight straight points to pull within 29-27 on a
Jessica Green (Memphis, Tenn./Lausanne HS) three with 18:51 remaining.
After UAM built the lead back to 55-45 on a pair of Erica Williams free throws with 3:52 remaining, another Green three-pointer sparked a comeback. After an
Aramis Judson (Bristow, Va./Stonewall Jackson HS) basket, Green nailed another trey to cut the margin to 56-53 with 2:27 remaining. After the next two possessions were scoreless for each team, Chelsea Johnson made a three-pointer with 35 seconds to play to give UAM all the scoring it would need, setting the final margin with a pair of free throws in the final seconds.
Jasmine Ellis (Memphis, Tenn./Central HS) led the Lady Bucs with 12 points and nine rebounds, while
Taylor Pugh (Memphis, Tenn./Briarcrest Christian HS) scored 10 points with seven rebounds. Green scored nine, and
Adrienne McKay (Olive Branch, Miss./Briarcrest Christian HS) added eight.
Johnson led the Cotton Blossoms with 19 points and five steals, and Clark scored 14 points with 13 rebounds. Candace Virgadomo added 10 points, all at the free throw line.
UAM shot 77.3 percent (17-of-22) at the charity stripe to offset their 36.5 percent (19-of-52) shooting overall. The Lady Bucs shot 42.1 percent (24-of-57) overall but just 2-of-6 at the free throw line. The Lady Bucs out-rebounded UAM 42-29, including a 16-9 edge in offensive boards, but UAM forced 26 turnovers and committed 17, converting them for a 30-9 edge in points off turnovers.
The Lady Bucs play their next two at home, hosting Freed-Hardeman Friday night, Dec. 16, at 5 p.m. and Blue Mountain Saturday afternoon, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m.
