LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama women’s basketball team kept its hopes alive for the Gulf South Conference Tournament, as UWA (10-16, 4-7) held off West Florida, 82-80, in overtime on Saturday, Feb. 21. Six Tigers scored in double figures led by Danielle Baldwin’s 17 points.

After an Amy Drake trey with four ticks left in regulation tied the contest at 68-68, UWF (8-18, 3-8) found itself up 72-70 in the first minute and a half of the extra period. After a pair of Valerie Harris free throws tied the game at 72-72, Erin Courington hit the front end of two shots from the charity stripe to put the Red and White up 73-72. Courington increased the UWA lead to four points with 2:13 to play on a pair of free throws. The Argos cut the lead down to one point three times during the two minutes, but the Tigers connected on three of four from the line and an additional Harris layup to secure the win.

UWA trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half, but rallied back to take its first lead since the 11:40 mark of the first half at the 5:18 mark on a free thrown from Kiara Parker. The one point conversion capped an old fashion three-point play for the Tigers. UWA would lead by as many as eight after taking the lead before Drake’s three sent the game into overtime.

The Tigers opened the game on a 12-4 run, but saw its margin dissipate to one on a Drake layup with 14:16 to play before the intermission. A Chelsea Turgeon jumper gave the Argos a 15-14 lead at the 12:38 mark of the opening stanza. A three-point play by Harris gave the Tigers a narrow two point lead a minute later. UWF regained the lead at 19-17 at the media timeout and went on to outscore the Red and White 17-8 the remainder of the half.

Valerie Harris scored 15 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, her seventh career double-double. Courington finished with 12 points with 11 coming from Jessie Clark. Omeshia Frost and Parker each finished with 10 points.

West Alabama returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 28, as UWA closes out the regular season at Montevallo. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on WZNJ 106.5-FM.