MonticelloLive

Arkansas-Monticello dropped its Gulf South Conference season opener to the Lady Bisons of Harding Saturday with a 60-68 loss in the Rhodes Field House.

The Blossoms applied extreme pressure to the Lady Bisons early, causing them to commit 10 turnovers before the halfway point of the first half. Out of the media timeout, the pace changed and Harding took control of the game, leading them to a victory.

The Blossoms spread out the scoring with seven players finishing with five or more points.

Senior Gemma Gibson (Dood City, Texas) led UAM with 13 points, while also collecting four rebounds, two assists and a game-high four steals.

Sophomore LaToya Josey (Madisonville, Texas) was the only other Blossom to reach double-digits after finishing with 10 points and also pulling down three rebounds, collecting two assists, and tallying one steal.

Senior Shakia Sanders (Chester, S.C.) was the closest to reach a double-double with nine points and seven rebounds. Her seven rebounds tied a team-best total with junior Sharlene Murphy (Coldwater, Miss.) – both coming away with seven rebounds.

Harding also was spread throughout the stats. Kelsea Lyda had 16 points, Stacey Ownens had 11 points, Lakyn Garrison had nine points, and Kinsey Turner and Catherine McMenamy both finished with eight points.

With the loss, the Blossoms drop to an even 7-7 overall and 0-1 in GSC play, while the Lady Bisons earn its 11th win of the season, improving to 11-3 overall this season and jump into a four-way tie for first place in the GSC West for now.

The Blossoms travel to Arkadelphia on Thursday for the second GSC game of the season. UAM plays Ouachita Baptist at 6 p.m. in the Bill Vining Arena on the OBU Campus. The game can be heard live on the air on KHBM-FM 93.7 and will also be streamed over the Internet at www.uamsports.com.