Tweet #theGAC  BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – One night after eliminating one three-time Great American Conference Women’s Basketball Championship winner in Southwestern Oklahoma State, Arkansas-Monticello defeated a second as the Blossoms put forth a virtuoso performance in the first half of their 72-57 against Arkansas Tech on Saturday from the Bruin Fieldhouse.
 
The Blossoms (20-10) shot 62.1 percent from the floor and made all five of their 3-point field goals in the opening 20 minutes as they opened up a 32-point lead, 49-17. Despite being outscored by 15 points in the second half, the Blossoms never trailed as they secured their first 20-win season since winning 21 in 2008-09. Additionally, UAM joined Southeastern Oklahoma State, Southwestern Oklahoma State and Henderson State as the first quartet of GAC schools to win 20 games in the same season.
 
Berniezha Tidwell put together her second-straight stellar performance in Bartlesville as she paced the Blossoms with 19 points, on 8-of-15 shooting. The GAC Defensive Player of the Year added 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals.
 
Led by Tidwell, the Blossom defense has shined through their first two GAC Championship games. They have held Arkansas Tech and SWOSU, two schools that each averaged more than 77.0 points per game, to 57 and 55, respectively. The Golden Suns and Lady Bulldogs have made only 37-of-134 shot attempts, a 27.6 percentage, against the UAM defense and shot a combined 22.2 percent from the 3-point arc.
 
Jayana Sanders provided the bulk of the offense for Tech (17-11) as she scored 19 points and handed out five assists.
 
Arkansas-Monticello will face Southeastern Oklahoma State in Sunday’s 3:00 PM title contest in the first GAC final for both programs. The Blossoms split against the Savage Storm, losing in Durant, 76-65, on January 9. They held Southeastern to a season-low point total in a 62-44 win on February 22.