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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Add another 'first' to the 2016-17 UWF women's basketball team.
 
The Argonauts shot 46 percent and got a suffocating defensive effort to defeat Benedict, 74-51, and advance to the regional championship game for the first time in program history.
 
UWF (27-6) scored the game's first 12 points and never trailed as five players scored in double figures, led by Katie Bobos' 17 and Katie O'Neal's 15. Courtney Meyer and Alex Coyne each recorded a double-double as the Argos snapped Benedict's 16-game win streak – the fifth-longest active stretch in the country. Meyer's day included 11 points, a game-high 12 rebounds and four blocks, while Coyne posted 10 points, 10 assists and three steals.
 
UWF head coach Stephanie Lawrence Yelton knew rebounding and defense would play a big factor in the game and it did. The Argonauts outrebounded the Lady Tigers 45-41 and held them to a season-low 26 percent shooting.
 
"It was a challenge to keep them off the boards and a challenge to keep their shooters under control," Yelton said. "It was a challenge for us to contain their drivers. Kudos to our players for being mentally tough and physically tough in a very physical game to finish it out."
 
UWF made its first eight shots and 9-of-14, including three 3-pointers, to grab a 19-3 lead 7:30 into the game before ending the first period with a 22-9 edge. Benedict made a run thanks in large part to its ability to hit some outside shots. The Lady Tigers made six triples of their own to close the gap to 33-28 before the Argos ended the half on a 7-1 run for a 40-29 advantage.
 
"It feels great because some nights you're dry and other night's they come back-to-back," said O'Neal, who made 5-of-8 from outside including three-straight to start. "It helps our teammates because if I can hit from the outside, it opens up the inside game and we can feed our post players."
 
The Argos continued to attack and outscored the Lady Tigers 22-12 in the third. They led by as many as 24 late in the period. UWF was never threatened in the final 10 minutes as Yelton was able to empty her bench late in the contest.
 
UWF will meet Rollins (22-7) in the regional championship game Monday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Tars defeated top seeded Eckerd, 55-43, in the other semifinal. The game will be broadcast online with links available at GoArgos.com The winner will advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, set for March 21-24 in Columbus, Ohio.