FLORENCE – After trailing by 20 points in the second half, the University of North Alabama women's basketball team rallied to knock of West Florida 62-56 Thursday evening at Flowers Hall. The thrilling Gulf South Conference victory gives the Lions a 9-5 overall record with a 1-2 mark in league action. West Florida falls to 5-10 overall and 1-2 in GSC play with the loss.
UNA was just 5-of-20 from three-point range, but got all five long-range shots in the second half.
West Florida took advantage of the Lions' slow offensive start to build a 31-15 lead at the break. The Argonauts took their largest lead of the game in the second half with a 41-21 advantage at the 15:52 mark.
After a basket by Jasmine Horne on the ensuing possession, the Lions got a defensive stop and hit their first three-point basket of the game. The three-pointer came from Delisa Madry and cut the deficit to 41-28 with 13:44 remaining.
UWF led 46-34 before the Lions used a 15-4 run to pull to within one at 50-49 with 5:19 remaining. North Alabama took its first lead of the game on a lay by Nichelle Fillmore to go ahead 56-54 at the 3:02 mark. The Argonauts would not be able to tie or take the lead again, getting only one field goal in the final 4:06 of the game.
Fillmore finished with 16 points to lead the Lions. The sophomore spent much of the game in foul trouble, but went 5-of-9 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free throw line. Dana Jackson connected on a pair of second-half three-pointers and finished the game with 10 points.
UNA will try to even its GSC record on Saturday with an afternoon home game against Valdosta State. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at Flowers Hall.
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