By: Houston Taylor
CLEVELAND, Miss. – Southern Arkansas overcame a 13-point deficit to stop an opening season three-game slide in picking up their first win of the season with a 70-67 decision over West Florida Saturday in the Delta State Margaret Wade Memorial Classic at Sillers Coliseum.
The Argonauts (1-3) held their 13-point advantage twice in the first half, the last at 19-6 when the Lady Muleriders made their move. Senior guard Shanaye Davis hit two jumpers and junior Lynzi Williams knocked down a three to pull them within 19-13, and junior guard Goldie White eventually canned a pair of free throws to push SAU ahead, 30-29, at 1:14. The teams went to the break knotted at 32-32.
Davis and UWF’s Victoria Hunt traded jumpers to open the second half, and then White hit two more free throws at 17:55 to put Southern Arkansas back on top. They eventually built a 10-point margin, 62-52 at 6:51, but West Florida went on a 13-3 run to tie it at 65-65 with 1:44 left. But White hit a lay-up, sophomore forward Kristy Shinn added a jumper, and White got one of two free throws, while the Argos missed six of seven shots down the stretch to give the Lady Muleriders (1-3) the win.
White hit 8 of 15 shots, 1 of 3 treys, and 8 of 11 free throws to post a season and game-high 25 points. Freshman forward Kmaria Hobbs got her fourth consecutive game in double-figures with 16 points, and Williams added 11. Junior forward Shardae Thompson pulled down a team-high five rebounds.
SAU shot a season-best 46.2 percent, hitting 24 of 52, including 4 of 7 from beyond the arc, and converted 18 of 26 (69.2) free throws. UWF was 26 of 58 (44.8), 2 of 7, and 13 for 15 (86.7).
Jessica Young recorded a double-double in leading West Florida, scoring 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Tiffany Williams added 14 points.
The Argonauts held a slim 35-31 rebound advantage, and committed 14 turnovers to Southern Arkansas’ 11.
The Lady Muleriders are at home for the first time this season Tuesday when they host Texas A&M-Commerce in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off. The Lions handed SAU an 88-57 setback in their season opener last Saturday in Commerce.
