THURSDAY vs. SHORTER: LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | TWITTER UPDATES
SATURDAY vs. #25 LEE: LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | TWITTER UPDATES
 
PENSACOLA, Fla. – The UWF women's basketball team opens. 3-game homestand this week, welcoming Shorter (Thursday at 5:30 p.m.) and 25th-ranked Lee (Saturday at 2 p.m.) to the UWF Field House in a pair of pivotal games that will attempt to position the Argonauts for a upper-half seed in the upcoming GSC Basketball Championship.
 
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
* BLUE OUT: Thursday is a Blue Out and fans are encouraged to wear blue colored clothing to the game. Both the UWF men's and women's teams will be wearing their blue uniforms.
* PLAY 4 KAY: Saturday is the annual Play 4 Kay game where the women's basketball community across the country raises money and awareness for cancer research and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The cause is especially close to UWF head coach Stephanie Lawrence Yelton who played and coached against the legendary NC State head coach in the 1990s and 2000s. Fans are encouraged to wear pink and donations for cancer research will be accepted at the game.
 
ABOUT UWF
* UWF is 17-6 overall & 11-5 in Gulf South Conference play, sitting in fourth place with a .688 winning pct., just ahead of West Alabama at .600 and Delta State at .500. The Argonauts won both games on the road last week, taking down Montevallo and Auburn Montgomery.
* UWF averages 67.7 points per game on 40.7 percent field goal shooting, 30.4 percent from outside and 68.2 free throw shooting. The Argos make 6.6 3-pointers per game and have made at least 10 six times.
* UWF has made more free throws than its opponents have attempted seven times this season, winning all seven.
* The Argonauts are really good at rebounding and lead the GSC for the seventh time in the last 10 years with 41.2 rebounds per game.
* UWF is 8-1 at home this season and 89-40 (.690) in 10 seasons under Stephanie Lawrence Yelton. The team has won at least 10 home games five of the last eight years prior to 2021-22.
 
WHAT'S AT STAKE
* UWF has three games remaining against teams they defeated in the first meeting earlier this season. As a reminder, the top four teams will host the fifth-through-eighth place teams in the GSC Championship presented by TicketSmarter on March 1. Depending some other results in the GSC, UWF could secure a top four finish as early as Thursday night.
 
UWF NO. 10 IN FIRST NCAA REGIONAL RANKING
* UWF came in ranked No. 10 in the first edition of the NCAA Division II regional rankings as announced by the organization Wednesday.
* Union is listed as the No. 1 team with a 17-2 region record. Tampa is No. 2 and leads all region teams with a 22-5 D2 record, followed by Eckerd at No. 3, Valdosta State at No. 4 and Lee at No. 5. Three teams from the SIAC – Tuskegee, Benedict and Savannah State – are at Nos. 6-8, just ahead of Florida Southern at No. 9.
* The region polls will determine the five at large bids to the NCAA South Region Tournament in March. The eight-team tournament will consist of the three conference tournament champions from the South region (Gulf South, Sunshine and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conferences) and five at-large bids. The women's regional will be March 11, 12 and 14 at the location of the top seed.
* The NCAA will announce region rankings for the next two weeks – on Feb. 23 and March 2 – leading up to selection Sunday on March 6 at 9:00 p.m. Central time on NCAA.com.
 
THE ARGONAUT STUDENT-ATHLETES
* Jaclyn Jarnot is one of the top players in the GSC and one of just two averaging a double-double with 17.4 points per game and 13.0 rebounds per game (1st in GSC, 5th in NCAA). Her 10.0 defensive boards per contest are 2nd in the country. She leads UWF with 25 steals and nine blocked shots. The North Dakota transfer has registered a double-double in 15 games to rank 3rd nationally. She has been the Argos' leading scorer 10 times (UWF is 8-2 in those games) and leading rebounder 17 times (15-2).
*Zoe Piller averages 14.9 ppg and 9.2 rpg with 10 double-doubles. She has led the team in scoring nine times (7-2) and rebounding seven times (3-4). She is third in the GSC and 18th in the NCAA with a 56.8 FG pct. She ranks 34th in the NCAA and 3rd in the GSC with 3.7 offensive rpg. Her scoring average is 12th in the NCAA among freshmen. She has been the GSC Freshman of the Week five times (GSC record is six) and Player of the Week once.
* Charlotte Ellmore leads the team with 35.9 minutes per game (2nd in GSC, 37th in NCAA) and 95 assists (3rd in GSC at 4.1 apg). She is 21st nationally and 1st in the GSC with a 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio. She is tied for third in scoring at 8.3 ppg and her 35 3-pointers are tops on the team (1.7 per game is 12th in the GSC). She has made 44 pct. (17-of-39) of her 3-pointers in the last six games.
* Gabby Brown is fourth on the team in scoring with 7.8 ppg and third in rebounding at 4.5 rpg. Her 23 3-pointers and 1.1 3FG per game are fourth on the squad. She has led UWF in scoring twice this season.
* Maddie Griffon is fifth on the team in scoring at 7.5 ppg and second with 61 assists (3.2 apg for 7th in the GSC). Her 19 steals are tied for second with Zoe Piller and Charlotte Ellmore. After missing the Spring Hill and Valdosta State games two weeks ago, she combined for 13 assists and four turnovers (3.3 a/to ratio) last week against UWA and UAH. She tied her career-high with eight assists vs. UAH.
 
41ST SEASON OF UWF WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
* UWF enters game with 605 all-time wins dating back 40-plus years to the inaugural season of 1981-82. The Argonauts are 605-524 all-time with six NCAA Tournament appearances, one Elite Eight, four GSC Regular-Season Championships and one GSC tourney title in 18 appearances.
* In 28 seasons of NCAA/GSC membership, the program is 429-332 for a .564 winning pct., ranking fifth among current members and third among those that have been in the league for at least 10 seasons.
 
PILLER-JARNOT ARE THE HIGHEST SCORING FRONTCOURT TANDEM IN THE COUNTRY
* UWF's starting frontcourt duo of Zoe Piller and Jaclyn Jarnot have combined for 32.3 points and 22.2 rebounds per game. That makes them the highest scoring frontcourt in the country and the 25th highest scoring combo for any school.
* The duo has 25 combined double-doubles and the Argos are 7-1 when they have one in the same game.
 
SHARING THE ROCCO
* During the current 3-game winning streak, UWF has done a great job of sharing the Rock – much like Zoe shares her pet rock Rocco in Sesame Street. The Argos' 'Rocco' has been shared at least 15 times in each of the last three games, including a pair of 20-plus efforts against UAH and at Montevallo.
* UWF has assisted on 58 of its 72 field goals (80.6) in the three most recent victories.
 
ELLMORE CLOSING IN ON SECOND 100-ASSIST SEASON
* UWF senior Charlotte Ellmore enters the weekend with 95 assists. She is the last Argo to reach 100 assists in a season when she tallied 112 two years ago. In her third season at UWF she has handed out 268 assists, ranking her seventh all-time in program history.
* With five more helpers, she would join a group of just four previous UWF standouts with multiple 100-plus assist seasons in their careers – Alex Coyne, Toynetta Johnson, Clenita Jones and Sydney Jackson.
 
UWF CAREER ASSISTS
1. 423 - Alex Coyne (2015-17)
2. 385 - Sydney Jackson (1993-96)
3. 330 - Clenita Jones (2001-04)
4. 302 - Amy Drake (2007-10)
5. 275 - Ann Ching (2003-06)
6. 274 - Kelly Barrett (2000-03)
7. 268 - Charlotte Ellmore (2019-present)
8. 260 - Toynetta Johnson (2012-14)
 
* She is coming off two of her best games an Argonaut, putting up 19 points on five 3-pointers, three assists and two steals at Montevallo, followed by 17 points and 10 assists at AUM on Saturday for her second career double-double.
* Additionally, she is 11-for-26 (.423) from outside over her last three games.
* The senior from Essex, England has started all 80 games over three seasons since transferring to UWF following her freshman season at UTSA.
 
ARGOS SET 3-POINT RECORD TWO WEEKS AGO IN SPRING HILL WIN
* UWF made a school-record 16 3-pointers in the win at Spring Hill last month. The Argos are not an exceptional shooting team from outside, making just 30 percent on the year, but connected on 16-of-33 for 49 percent against the Badgers, raising their average from 28.4 to 30.1.
* The previous school-record was 12 triples set twice in the 2020-21 season against Lee (1/22/21) and at West Georgia (2/16/21).
* UWF has made at least 10 3-pointers in a game six times this season and is 4-2 in those games. The last two of those came in two of their last three games, 10-for-27 (.370) in their last home game against UAH two Saturday's ago and 10-for-23 (.435) at Montevallo last Thursday.
 
GETTING TO THE LINE
* UWF has done a very good job of getting to the free throw line this season, ranking in the top 50 nationally in both makes (45th, 291) and attempts (44th, 422). In fact, the Argonauts have almost made more free throws than their opponents have attempts (291 vs. 328).
* The five regular starters have all taken at least 30 free throws, with one of the top reserves, Fanny Hulmi, at 29 attempts. 
* Freshman Zoe Piller and Christian Brothers' Emily Jones have gone back-and-forth much of the season for the GSC leader in FT attempts. Jones currently leads with 149 attempts, followed by Piller's 143.
 
REBOUNDING A STRENGTH FOR UWF ONCE AGAIN
* Historically, UWF has been a dominant rebounding team at both ends of the floor and 2021-22 is no different. UWF ranks first in the GSC at 41.2 rpg, first in defensive rebounds at 28.4 and is fifth in rebound defense, allowing just 33.5 rpg. The 7.7 rebound margin is third (25th in NCAA)
* UWF has outrebounded its opponents in 19 of 23 games and is 15-4 in those games. The Argos have lost the last two games they were outrebounded in – at VSU and vs. UWA. Since those losses, the Argos have had at least 45 rebounds in the last three games – all UWF wins.
* The Argos are 14-2 when they crack the 40 rebound plateau.
* Here is a chart showing where UWF has ranked in rebounding offense during the Stephanie Lawrence Yelton era:
 
Year    RPG     GSC Rank
2012-13           46.7     1st
2013-14           40.8     2nd
2014-15           45.8     1st
2015-16           40.5     2nd
2016-17           45.8     1st
2017-18           43.7     1st
2018-19           43.7     1st
2019-20           43.3     2nd
2020-21           42.7     1st
2021-22           41.2     1st  
 
ABOUT SHORTER
* Shorter is 4-13 overall this season and 1-12 in GSC play. The Hawks upset West Alabama, 71-69, on Saturday in a game that could help the Argos to secure a top four seed in the GSC Tournament. SU averages 62.5 points per game and gives up 76.6 per contest.
* Jasmine Gaines is second in the GSC with 19.2 ppg and has scored more than 1,500 points in her career. Kelly Pickett has 12.5 ppg and a team-high 31 3-pointers, just ahead of Ansley Barge at 28. Tiara Lewis is tops on the team with 7.7 rpg to go along with her 9.8 ppg.
* LaSheena Nation took over at Shorter in August as the head coach following two seasons as an assistant at AUM and two at Snead State CC in Boaz, Ala. She is the fourth head coach in five seasons for the Hawks.
 
UWF-SHORTER SERIES HISTORY
* UWF is 13-6 all-time against Shorter and has won nine of the last 10, including a 83-78 decision at Shorter in December of 2021. The Argos are 7-3 in games played in Pensacola and won the last five at the UWF Field House.
* UWF won the only meeting a year ago, 94-67, in the season-opener in Pensacola and the teams split their series in 2019-20. Prior to that, the Argos swept the previous three seasons for a 6-game winning streak.
* LAST MEETING: UWF had four players in double figures for an 83-78 road win … UWF had a strong third quarter where it shot 63 percent … Jaclyn Jarnot, Zoe Piller, Maddie Griffon and Charlotte Ellmore all had at least 11 points … Jarnot finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Piller had 25 points, 12 boards and two blocks … The Argos outrebounded the Hawks 39-28 and grabbed a season-high 19 offensive caroms that they converted into 24 second-chance points … The Argonauts shot 42 percent and committed a season-low seven turnovers.

ABOUT LEE
* Lee comes into the game ranked No. 25 in the country, sporting a 19-4 record and just ahead of the Argos in third place in the GSC standings at 12-3.
* Haley Schubert is tied with Jaclyn jarnot for third in the GSC in scoring with a 17.4 ppg average to lead Lee, while her 5.3 assists per game are first in the GCS and 16th in the country. She is second in the GSC and is 33rd nationally with 56 steals. Halle Hughes is second on the team at 11.3 ppg and second with 5.7 rebounds per contest.
* Lee averages 72.8 ppg on 45.0 pct. shooting. The Lady Flames lead the GSC at the free throw line with 79.6 pct. accuracy – placing them 10th in the country. Lee is second in the GSC in fewest turnovers with 14.6 per game, just ahead of UWF's 15.1.
* Marty Rowe is in his 18th season in Cleveland and has a 455-118 record. Rowe is 588-183 in 23 seasons as a head coach and his teams have won 20-plus contests in 20 of his 23 seasons, including 16 at Lee. 
 
UWF-LEE SERIES HISTORY
* Lee holds an 11-6 record in the series dating back to their transition to NCAA status in the 2013. UWF is 4-5 in Pensacola and 2-6 in Cleveland, Tenn.
* The Argos went 1-2 against the Lady Flames last season, losing at Lee in December before splitting a pair in Pensacola in late January. The 71-61 win over the 18th-ranked Lady Flames was the 200th career win for Stephanie Lawrence Yelton.
* LAST MEETING: In a game with  23 lead changes and eight ties, it was Zoe Piller who scored the game-tying free throw with 19 seconds left and the game-winning basket with 8.5 remaining to help lead UWF to a 76-72 win over 19th-ranked Lee in December … Piller finished with a game-high 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting and eight rebounds, with 16 in the second half and made 8-for-10 at the free throw line over 15 minutes … UWF shot 43 percent and was 18-for-21 at the line as the squad won at Lee for the second time in the last three meetings, and their second-straight overall … UWF had 14 offensive caroms and turned those into a 14-4 difference in second-chance points.
 
YELTON IN TENTH SEASON AT UWF
* Stephanie Lawrence Yelton is in her tenth season at UWF and has a 166-112 record with the Argos … She is 223-196 in her 15th season as a head coach, which includes five seasons at Charleston Southern … The Morrow, Ga. native (suburb south of Atlanta) is a UNC grad from 1996 and was a 4-year letterwinner for the Tar Heels, where she won two ACC Championships and the 1994 NCAA National Championship – she threw the inbounds pass on Charlotte Smith's game-winning buzzer beater in the title game.
* Yelton was named the GSC Coach of the Year in 2013-14 and 2018-19.
* She is 6-11 against Lee and 13-6 against Shorter.

WIN STREAK REACHED 10, TIED FOR NO. 3 IN PROGRAM HISTORY
* UWF reeled off 10-consecutive wins after a season-opening loss, which made the streak tied for the third-longest in UWF women's basketball history. The 1997-98 team that started 17-1, reeled off 14-straight after a 3-1 start to hold the record. The 2018-19 squad won the final 13 regular-season games for No. 2 on the list, just ahead of the 10-straight by this year's team and the 2005-06 team.
  
UWF PICKED 8TH IN GSC COACHES POLL
* UWF was picked to finish eighth in the GSC Preseason Coaches Poll … Defending champion Union earned 10 of 12 first place votes and was picked first for the third-consecutive year. Lee received one first place vote, followed by Valdosta State with the 13th top vote. Montevallo took fourth, while Delta State rounded out the top five with Alabama Huntsville, West Alabama and West Florida sixth through eighth. West Georgia was ninth, with Christian Brothers, Mississippi College, Auburn Montgomery and Shorter also in the list.