University of Arkansas Monticello - Boll Weevil Yearbook (Monticello, AR)

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Women’s Basketball The Cotton Blossoms weren't supposed to have an outstanding year in 1980. Second-year coach Alvy Early had to fill a gap, a large one created by the loss of Gwen Walker. Early had an idea that Walker’s absence would help the team in the long run. In the past, everything was geared around Gwen; now, more people could get into the offense. The Blossoms dismissed the ‘long run’ idea, and filled the gap very quickly. They played the first 12 games of a rigorous 31-game schedule to an 8-4 mark. The Blossoms soon caught fire. They won 20 of the next 23 games, including AWISA Tournament play. They finished the AWISA tourney with a loss to Arkansas Tech which snapped a 13-game winning streak. Two freshmen were responsible for the Blossoms’ outstanding season. Pearlean Davidson, last year’s most sought-after player, led the team with an average 18.1 points per game and 10.6 rebounds. She was backed by another freshman, Florestine Cothran, the MVP of last year’s State Class A Tournament. Cothran was just a step behind Davidson, 16.4 in scoring and 8.9 in rebounding. Angenette Mitchell and Vivian Cooper added one of the AWISA’s fastest guard combos, with Cooper, a junior, the senior member of the starting team. Foreward Teresa Summerford, a sophomore with a fine outside shooting touch, rounded out the top five. They opened the season with two home wins, a 106-24 record-setting demolition of Arkansas 176 Basketball ABOVE: Jo Barnes finds herself surrounded by defenders. RIGHT: Teresa Summerford jumps high to take a shot against a Riderette contender. OPPOSITE: One would almost call this a jump ball.

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ABOVE: Second year coach Alvy Early makes use of a time out. RIGHT: When the talking is done, it’s time to go back and play ball. OPPOSITE: Scoring leader Pearlean Davidson looses a shot against UA-LR. OPPOSITE TOP: Florestine Cothran added scoring punch to follow Davidson in points. OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Felicia Shorter added speed to the Blossoms’ lineup. Baptist and a narrow 71-62 win over UA-LR’s Lady Trojans. They lost a squeaker to Arkansas State, 68-67, then back to beat Henderson 73-63. They closed their opening four-day home stand 3-1. The Blossoms hit the road, losing to Northeast Louisiana in Monroe, 69-61, then topping Philander Smith in Little Rock, 72-56. They then traveled to Batesville where Arkansas College defeated them, 62-50. The Blossoms returned home with a 4-3 record. Things didn’t look spectacular for the Blossoms, accustomed to the outstanding success of the past. Alvy Early saw his team split a pair of home games, a 70-62 win over Ouachita and a 62-59 loss to Grambling, to go 5-4. ‘i Th e tables turned. The Blossoms ran off three wins, 72-50 over North Arkansas Community College and 93-63 over UA-PB, both away, then