BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of West Alabama’s Tariq Ali was named Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the Tigers 34-14 win over then 22nd-ranked Delta State University.

Ali is the first UWA defender to take home accolades this season. The senior linebacker racked up 7.5 total stops behind five solos. The Birmingham, Ala.-native intercepted a pair of Statesmen passes and also recovered a fumble. Both of his interceptions halted DSU drives in West Alabama territory, while his fumble recovery ended DSU’s first offensive possession of the game.

The win, which snapped a season long, three-game losing streak, marked the first win over the Statesmen in Livingston, Ala. since 1993 and gave UWA Head Coach Bobby Wallace his 97th win at a GSC school.

West Alabama concludes a season-long, three-game homestand on Saturday, Oct. 17 against the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. The game will be aired on FOX Sports, WSLY 104.9-FM and at athletics.uwa.edu. UWA will also provide a live video stream at athletics.uwa.edu courtesy of the B2 Network.