UWA women snap losing streak
Published 10:30 am Friday, February 1, 2013
LIVINGSTON – Nikkia Jordan scored 21 points and West Alabama snapped a couple of streaks on the way to a 60-46 women’s Gulf South Conference basketball victory over Shorter at Pruitt Hall Thursday night.
The win snapped a four-game losing skid for the Tigers, now 9-9 overall and 4-6 in GSC play. UWA snapped Shorter’s league-best winning streak at five games and dropped the Hawks to 11-7 and 6-4.
West Alabama scored nine points off 10 Shorter turnovers in the first half to take a 24-19 advantage at the break. The game remained relatively close until Tamya Thompson’s layup stretched UWA’s lead to 43-32 with 7:10 left.
The Lady Hawks never threatened the rest of the way. West Alabama’s largest lead was the final margin after doubling up the Lady Hawks on the boards (28-14) in the second half. Synthea Reed and Jamie Gunter had 10 rebounds apiece for UWA, who outrebounded Shorter 48-40.
“We did a really good job on the boards in the second half. That was a point of emphasis for us coming out of the locker room,” UWA head coach Craig Roden said. “Defensively we played well, but we are still out of sync on offense.
“I thought tonight was the best job we have done all year of taking the scout, implementing it to the game plan and then taking it to the floor,” Roden said. “Our (assistant) coaches Roy Dixon and Manisha Redus do a great job getting us prepared.”
Ieshia Alexander scored 16 points to lead Shorter. Karisma Boykin chipped in 13 points and Shelby Farrer collected a game-high 15 rebounds for the Lady Hawks.
West Alabama is host to Alabama-Huntsville (8-12, 5-5) on Saturday. Shorter returns home to host West Georgia on Saturday.