LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Four players scored in double figures as the University of West Alabama women’s basketball team defeated the University of North Alabama 69-64 in a pivotal Gulf South Conference East Division contest. Valerie Harris led the Tigers (9-15, 3-6) with 15 points. Omeshia Frost added 14 points with 13 from Jessie Clark. Danielle Baldwin rounded out the double figure scoring with 11 points.

The Tigers took their first lead of the game, 47-45, at the 11:35 mark on a jumper by Jenni Thomley.  UNA (13-12, 6-4) answered with a 6-1 run to take a 51-48 lead with a couple ticks over nine minutes to play. Harris pulled the Red and White back within one on a jumper with 8:43 remaining. Kiara Parker put UWA back on top with a layup, but a Brianna Abrams jumper again gave the Lions the lead at 53-52. Keiara Middleton gave the Red and White a one point lead on a jumper at the 6:06 mark. The Tigers wouldn’t relinquish the lead again, as they expanded their margin to five on several occasions down the stretch. UWA reached their largest lead of the game with 1:06 to play, when Baldwin connected on a free throw. UNA would pull within two with 29 ticks left, but key free throws down the line by Baldwin and Clark closed the contest out for UWA.

UNA opened the game with the first seven points of the game, but UWA answered with a 7-0 run of its own to tie the game at 7-7 with 14:11 left in the first half. The Lions regained the lead at 9-7 on a jumper by Amber Rutherford. UNA wouldn’t lose the lead the remainder of the opening half, pushing out to as many as nine points with 5:44 to play in the opening stanza.