Marie McAbee and Kajuanna Rivers combined for 31 points and Tuskegee shot 57 percent from the floor in the second half as the Tigerettes defeated West Alabama, 68-47, in women’s college basketball action Tuesday at the James Center.

The victory was the first of the year for Tuskegee, who improved to 1-4. West Alabama’s troubles on the road continued with the Tigers dropping to 3-3, with all three losses away from Pruitt Hall. UWA had defeated Tuskegee, 67-54, on Nov. 13 in Livingston.

The Tigers and Tigerettes were tied at 26 at the half, but West Alabama’s first field goal of the second half came with 14:18 to play. UWA shot a paltry 28 percent in the final 20 minutes.

Tuskegee effectively put the game away with a 17-7 run to open the second half and never looked back. Tuskegee’s largest lead was 23 points with just under two minutes to play.

Alexis Hewitt and Quentinette Odom combined for 22 of UWA’s 26 first-half points, but contributed just four in the second half, with Hewitt scoring those.

McAbee scored 16 to lead Tuskegee, getting 14 of those in the first half. Rivers chipped in 15, with 10 coming in the second half. Alannah Vincent and Chelsea Azore had seven rebounds each for the Tigerettes, who outrebounded UWA 48-32.

Odom’s 16 points paced West Alabama scoring, followed by Odom and Shameika Hart with 10 each. Odom had seven rebounds for UWA.

West Alabama has 11 days off before beginning Gulf South Conference action Dec. 14 at Alabama-Huntsville. Tuskegee hosts Mobile on Thursday.