Sports

PROGRESS IS EVIDENT FOR COTTON BLOSSOMS

By Jay Lupo/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Sunday, December 23, 2007 10:22 PM CST

MONTICELLO — Arkansas-Monticello has been far from perfect so far this season, but there’s little doubt the Cotton Blossoms are much improved from a year ago.

In head coach Chris Ratcliff’s first season, UAM (6-4) was just 7-20 and 3-11 in the Gulf South Conference. Ratcliff, a former Henderson State assistant who helped build powerhouse teams in Arkadelphia, said in the preseason that last year his only goal for his team was to be “competitive”. And the Blossoms were, losing 11 games by 10 points or less.

Still, “competitive” didn’t add up to a good season in 2006-2007.

“Seven wins, that’s not going to cut it,” Ratcliff said. “I’m a competitive guy, and when I took this job I knew it would take time to get the program where I wanted it to be.

“But we were definitely looking for more progress this year.”

Ratcliff’s primary goal for this year’s team was to make the GSC tournament in March. And while that goal won’t be determined for several more months, it’s clear UAM’s women are well on their way to a better season in Ratcliff’s second year in charge.

“It’s a process, and I do think we’re well on our way,” he said. “Our goal was to get into the [GSC] tournament, and once you’re in, anything can happen.

“But I’m real pleased with our girls right now. Of course I’m not happy about four losses. But the simple fact that we’re one win away from last year’s total in December is a testament to how far we’ve come.”

The Blossoms dropped their first two games of the season at Division I foes Central Arkansas and North Texas, but bounced back and won five straight from Nov. 30 to Dec. 7. UAM had its winning streak snapped in a 74-52 loss to Saint Mary’s in the Ouachita Baptist Classic on Dec. 8, rebounded to knock off Lincoln University 78-64 on Wednesday but dropped its final game before Christmas 87-68 at Southwest Baptist on Thursday.

Still, the Blossoms, who, just like Mike Newell’s Boll Weevils, feature an abundance of new faces on their 2007-2008 roster, have to be pleased that they’re only one win away from equaling last year’s victory total before their GSC season even begins.

“That’s the thing. We had to get the right kind of players in here to do what we want to do,” Ratcliff said. “We’re young, and we’re brand new. So obviously, we’re not hitting on all cylinders right now.

“But we’re getting better. From last year to right now, there’s just no comparison.”

Ratcliff, who favors an up-tempo style, brought in the type of players he needs for success in his system, and it’s paid immediate dividends for UAM this year.

Andrea Dubose, a Newton, Miss. native and junior transfer from East Central (Miss.) Community College, is averaging 13.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per contest through 10 games while shooting 43 percent from the floor and 38 percent from three-point range. Freshman Janette Thompson, who played her high school ball at Mountain Pine, is also thriving, scoring 12.3 points per game and shooting 43 percent from long range.

All together, the Blossoms have four players averaging double digits in the scoring column and four more chipping in with at least seven points per game.

UAM, which is off for the holidays, will resume play on Saturday in the West Florida Classic in Pensacola, Fla., with back-to-back games against West Alabama and West Florida. The Blossoms return home on Jan. 7 for a nonconference date with West Alabama before opening up GSC play at Harding on Jan. 12.

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