Box Score


Arkansas-Monticello used a late second-half surge to beat Henderson State 66-62 in women's basketball action, Thursday at the Duke Wells Center.

Looking for its first conference win of the season, Henderson State held a late 62-59 lead over UAM with just over a minute to play.

Two straight UAM layups by Jordan Goforth and Nelsha Peterson after back-to-back Reddie turnovers gave the Cotton Blossoms the win.

Early in the first half, the Reddies got off to a hot start, as a Vanessa Pieper midrange jumper gave HSU a 15-4 lead, but the Cotton Blossoms stormed back and took an 18-17 lead at the 5:53 mark off of a Goforth layup.

Back and forth action continued over the course of the second half, as there were a total of eight lead changes in the game.

Annie Thomas, who hit 4-of-6 three-point field goals, put the Reddies on top 60-57 with a trifecta at the 1:48 mark.

After a pair of free throws by Nikki Mullen cut the deficit to a single-point, Dulincia Keener made a solid move to the bucket for an easy layup to put Henderson on top 62-59 with 1:10 remaining. Henderson was unable to score again.

Henderson State outrebounded Arkansas-Monticello 37-29, and also made three more free throws than UAM attempted.

However, the Reddies committed 22 turnovers to just 14 for the Cotton Blossoms.

Thomas led the balanced Reddie scoring attack with 14 points while also leading the team in rebounds with seven.

Both Deidra McCoy and Pieper each had 10 points apiece to round out the double-digit scorers for Henderson State.  McCoy also pulled down five boards.

Goforth led the way for the Cotton Blossoms connecting on 10-of-17 attempts for 21 points, while Nelsha Peterson had 16 and Nikki Mullen had 13.

The Reddies are back in action, on Saturday as they take on Arkansas Tech in a Great American Conference matchup, with tipoff slated for 1 p.m.