LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Danielle Norquest led all scorers with 19 points as the UWF women's basketball team suffered a 56-51 loss to West Alabama at Pruitt Hall Saturday.
 
The teams battled to within seven points the entire game but it was the homestanding Tigers who made four free throws for the only scoring in the final three minutes that provided the difference.
 
UWF (6-16, 2-12 Gulf South) shot 37 percent and had a 37-31 edge in rebounding. Norquest also had seven rebounds to lead all players. Fanny Hulmi had nine points and four rebounds in 20 minutes in her first game after returning from injury. Rachel McCree made a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter before finishing with eight points.
 
But UWA (10-9, 5-8) scored 30 points in the paint with a large portion of those coming on layups from Tazsa Garrett-Hammett and Bria Dent. The duo combined for 33 points and was 11-of-13 at the free throw line.
 
UWA got out to a 7-0 lead, getting five points off Argo turnovers. The Argos started to get into an offensive rhythm and got two 3-pointers each from McCree and Norquest for a 17-16 lead. 
 
The teams struggled to score for much of the second quarter, combining for eight points through the first six minutes. The Tigers rallied and made their final four field goals to close the half on an 8-2 run for a 28-25 lead at the half.
 
UWA got out to a 41-34 lead with a 7-0 run midway through the period, before the Argos answered with a 7-2 stretch to close the frame.
 
UWF stayed within a possession for much of the fourth. Trailing by three with 1:46 left, the Argos had consecutive turnovers before the Tigers got fouled with 15 seconds remaining. Garrett-Hammett made both free throws to make it a 2-possession game. UWF was unable to score in the final 15 seconds.
 
UWF will return home for a pair of games at the UWF Field House next week. Thursday's game against West Georgia (13-7, 6-6) will begin at 5:30 p.m.