Box Score

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The University of West Alabama women’s basketball team punched its ticket to the Gulf South Conference basketball tournament in Southaven, Miss., Monday night with a 76-59 victory over West Florida.

"That's the hardest we've played since before Christmas break," Tigers head coach Amanda Marks said. "They earned their chance to play. I want to go to have a chance to prove something."

Marks also reached a milestone in the win. She picked up career victory No. 100 at West Alabama. This was the second milestone for Marks this season. Against Montevallo on January 27, she reached career coaching victory No. 200.

Jessica Thompson led three West Alabama players in double figures with 20 points. The junior was 6-of-10 from the field and 6-of-7 from behind the 3-point line. Irimar Hernandez, who was 6-of-8 from the field and 3-of-3 from behind the arc, finished with 15 points. Wennica Foster added 12 points and Ashton Washington chipped in with eight points and 14 rebounds – 11 on them on the defensive end.

The Tigers (18-8 overall, 6-5 GSC) jumped out to a 13-7 lead after a jumper by Jamie Walker with 13:31 remaining in the opening half. The Argonauts kept the game close and tied the game at 13 on a Tiffany Scott 3-pointer with 12:52 left.

West Alabama broke a 13-13 tie on a layup by Irimar Hernandez with 12:14 remaining and extended the margin to as many as seven points twice - 22-15 on a Thompson 3-pointer (9:17) and a Brandi Humphrey layup (24-17) – with 8:32 left in the first half.

West Florida chipped away at the lead and cut it to 24-23 after an Abena Bosia layup with 7:10 left in the half. West Alabama remained in front during the final seven minutes and took a 34-32 advantage into the break.

The Tigers opened the second half on a 12-4 run, capped by a Thompson 3-pointer with 13:38 remaining. The Argonauts (13-13, 6-5) chipped away at the deficit, cutting it to 48-43 after a free throw by Bosia. But that was as close as West Florida would get.

West Alabama used a 15-5 run capped by a Foster jumper to give the Tigers a commanding 63-48 advantage with 8:44 left. The lead never dipped below 10 points during the final eight minutes.

Bosia paced West Florida with 16 points, while Laura Davis added 13. Tiffany Scott finished with 10.

The Tigers shot 51 percent (29-of-57) from the floor and 75 percent (9-of-12) from behind the 3-point line. The Argonauts were 18-of-54 (33.3 percent) from the field and 6-of-16 (37.5 percent) from behind the arc.

West Alabama concludes regular-season action 5:30 p.m.  on Saturday, February 24 at Pruitt Hall against Montevallo.