By Bill Vilona
GoArgos.com Senior Writer
After facing two of the league's top teams, the schedule provides the UWF women's basketball team a home court chance this weekend to gain a place in the upper tier of the Gulf South Conference.
The Argos (8-4, 5-3 in GSC) face Montevallo on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the UWF Field House, then play Auburn-Montgomery at 5:30 p.m. on Monday (Jan. 8). UWF is situated between both teams in the GSC standings, heading into the first set of home games of 2024 and first time in 27 days the Argos men's and women's teams have played in Pensacola.
Montevallo (8-4, 6-3) is just ahead in fourth place of the GSC. AUM (7-6, 5-4) trails the Argos in sixth place.
"I think we have taken care of some business that we needed to take care of," said UWF women's coach Stephanie Lawrence-Yelton, following the team's comeback win against West Georgia in the last home game on Dec. 10 before the holiday break. "I think this team is growing and learning.
"I think we are getting contributions from multiple players and different players each night. I like our depth. I like our resiliency."
That resolve was tested after UWF sustained a lopsided loss at No. 6-ranked Union on Dec., 14, bounced back two days later with a road win at Christian Brothers, then battled Tuesday against No. 22-ranked Valdosta State in a 75-67 loss.
In that game, UWF led at halftime and went up by seven points early in the fourth quarter, before the Blazers took command.
The recent games have reinforced what Yelton has tried to preach to her team.
"In our league, these teams are tough, these teams play you hard," she said. "And if you don't come with your big-girl britches on, and be ready to fight for it, no one is going to hand it to you."
Tyashia Bostick, a grad student guard, who transferred from Spring Hill, has stepped up to score a combined 80 points in her last four games. Her 25 points were the difference in the Argos' comeback win against West Georgia.
"This team has too much fight, we work too hard, we knew we can't lose this game," she said, following that game. "This showed a lot about our team. It showed no matter how hard the game is, we're going to fight."
That performance was followed by 26 points against Union and a 16-point, six assist game against Valdosta State where she played a season-high 33 minutes. It has boosted her scoring average to 13.5 points per-game -- second behind UWF's top scorer
Brooke Kane, who is also a graduate student.
"There are times in a game where you just have to will your way to win it," Yelton said. "I thought you saw Ty Bostic at her best (against West Georgia). We have been waiting for that moment to come alive.
"We see it at practice, but we have really had not seen it in a game until (then)."
On a team with the majority of players transferring into UWF before this season, Yelton has seen the up-and-downs that she hopes become less frequent.
"I think we have good talent on our team," she said. "I think sometimes we get in our own way. That's my daily challenge in practice every day is consistency. I think we compete well in practice every day.
"We go through spurts with consistency but I think that is early season stuff and if we can level that stuff out, the sky's the limit for this team."
The UWF women's game Saturday will be followed by the men against Montevallo. The games on Monday are designated as "Back To School Bash" with the first 100 students receiving a free T-shirt. UWF also begins its spring semester classes on Monday.
Following that game, UWF's schedule the rest of the season will be all GSC games and a Thursday and Saturday schedule most of the way. Both teams will reach midpoint of the conference schedule on Jan. 13.
