PENSACOLA, Fla. – Senior Jessica Thompson’s free throws with three minutes remaining in the contest gave the University of West Alabama women’s basketball team its first lead of the second half and UWA nursed that lead in the final moments for a 73-71 comeback win over West Florida on Monday night on the UWF campus.

With the UWA win and a Valdosta State win over Montevallo, the Tigers are assured of the No. 3 seed from the Gulf South Conference East in the league tournament in Southaven, Miss. next week.

The Tigers (12-14, 7-4 GSC) trailed 38-30 at the halftime break and the Argonauts would extend that advantage out to as many as 14 points four minutes deep into the final half at 47-33.  The Red and White trimmed the lead down to four at 65-61 at the 4:35 mark.  From that point, the Tigers out-scored UWF (9-17, 2-9 (GSC) 12-4 to register the win. 

UWA clamped down on the Argos on the defensive end in the second half, allowing 32 percent from the field while the Tigers posted 46 percent shooting mark in the final period. 

With her game-high 17 points in the contest, Thompson became the second Tiger this season and sixth UWA women’s basketball player to reach 1,000 points in a career.  Thompson drained a three pointer with 3:48 remaining in the first half to push her over the mark.  She joins Ashton Washington, who surpassed the 1,000-point mark last week at UAH.  Valerie Harris pitched in 17 points and seven rebounds in the affair while Washington was credited with 14 points and pulled down eight boards. Washington also dished out five assists.  Omeshia Frost turned in 11 points and drained three critical treys in the Tigers comeback.

UWF’s Samantha Schelaegel registered a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Tigers return to Pruitt Hall on Saturday, March 1, hosting in-state rival Montevallo. Tip off is set for 2 p.m.  GSC Tournament bound UWA will honor its four seniors prior to the contest.  The regular season-ending tilt with UM will be a part of Super Tiger Day activities.