ATU, UAM Meet in Monticello on Saturday

Is there, as the statue in Monticello suggests, anything more evil than a darn Boll Weevil?

What seems to be an unsolvable riddle will once again be on the table for debate when Arkansas Tech University pays its annual Great American Conference basketball visit to the University of Arkansas at Monticello on Saturday, Dec. 8.

The Golden Suns and Wonder Boys will return to Tucker Coliseum for a GAC twin bill against Southern Arkansas University on Wednesday, Dec. 12.

Game times for Tech and SAU are set for 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets ($5 adults/$3 students and senior citizens) will be available at the door. Those with a valid ATU identification card will be admitted free of charge.

Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (3-3, 1-1 GAC) vs. UAM Cotton Blossoms (1-5, 0-2 GAC)
When: Saturday, Dec. 8, 2 p.m.

Where: Steelman Fieldhouse, Monticello
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: ATU leads 64-24

About the Golden Suns: Arkansas Tech is undefeated in its last 21 women’s basketball meetings with UA-Monticello. The Golden Suns’ last loss to the Cotton Blossoms was an 81-64 setback on Jan. 29, 2009, in Monticello. Tech defeated UAM 84-66 and 91-66 last season. The Suns’ average margin of victory in their last four wins over the Blossoms has been 28.3 points. Sophomore guard Jacie Higgins (12.2 points per game), junior guard Hannah Villines (11.2 points per game) and sophomore guards Jayana Sanders (10.4 points per game) and Ke’Vonshaye Stackhouse (10 points per game) are Tech’s leading scorers.

About the Cotton Blossoms: UA-Monticello stopped a 15-game losing streak dating back to last season by defeating Southeastern Baptist 91-41 in a non-conference contest on Tuesday. Four of the Cotton Blossoms’ five losses this season have come by eight points or less. Junior forward MacKenzie Johnson (19.4 points per game) ranks fourth in the GAC in scoring. UAM ranks third in the conference in turnover margin (+4.67 per game).

Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (2-5, 0-2 GAC) vs. UAM Boll Weevils (4-3, 1-1 GAC)
When: Saturday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m.

Where: Steelman Fieldhouse, Monticello
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: ATU leads 99-50

About the Wonder Boys: Arkansas Tech is in the throes of a three-game losing streak that is a handful of possessions away from being a winning streak. Tech’s average margin of defeat during the skid has been 4.7 points per game. The Wonder Boys rank 10th in the GAC in field goal percentage defense (.458) and 11th in the league in scoring defense (84.9 points allowed per game). Tech is averaging 13 made 3-pointers per game, most in the GAC and third-most in all of NCAA Division II.

About the Boll Weevils: UA-Monticello has won four of its last five games and the Boll Weevils have not been defeated in regulation since Nov. 11. UAM leads the conference and ranks fifth in the nation in scoring defense (61 points allowed per game). The Weevils rank second in the GAC in rebound margin (+8.3 per game). Only two UAM players return from last year’s 19-12 team. UA-Monticello features 10 junior college transfers on its 2018-19 roster.