When the teams line up for the National Anthem, the success so far attained by UWF's women's basketball team becomes more pronounced.

The Argos played their last several games with nine players. They have more personnel with coaches and support staff on the bench than uniform players. In comparison, opponents have resembled a small army.

"Hey, we're slim pickins'… and then you look at the other teams and they have 16," said Argos coach Stephanie Lawrence-Yelton, laughing.

This season, however, nine has been fine.

Despite facing substitution and fatigue issues, the Argos head into Saturday's (2 p.m.) home game against Valdosta State with a 14-5 overall record, 10-3 and third place in the Gulf South Conference.

Their next win seals a winning season.

UWF has 10 games left on the schedule, evenly split home and away, beginning with Saturday's game at the UWF Field House. There are a lot of goals that can be attained.

"Anything is possible," Yelton said, following Monday's 68-58 home win against West Alabama. "After the loss (Jan. 25 against Alabama-Huntsville), I talked to our players and said, okay we're in third place. Our job now is to beat everybody under us and solidify this spot.

"Even sitting in third (in GSC), you're in a great spot and you're controlling your own destiny if you take care of the rest."

The team is a near-total makeover from a year ago. The Argos have only two players taller than 5-11. They employ a new, pressing defensive style, and rotate sets of lineups frequently during games.

"This has really been a different kind of season. We have a lot of newness," Yelton said. "We have two new coaches, eight new players, a new strength coach, a new athletic trainer. Everything was new, except me. And then, crazy me, I started putting in a new system on offense and defense. So, everything was brand new and that has been a real challenge. During the season, I've been still learning and growing. I have not perfected this new system either. So, it has been a challenge for me to watch and learn and see how teams have taken advantage of us and how we can take advantage of teams."

The Argos began the season 5-3. They produced a two-point win at Valdosta State on December 15 to begin a surge of seven wins in eight games.

Two players are injured. Yelton is hoping senior guard Izarria Alexander can return next week after a sprained ankle. She is hopeful that Saije Taylor, the team's lone freshman, can return before mid-February.

"It's been a lot," Yelton said. "We've then had major injuries and illnesses and we are still going through that. We've had people in and out of the lineup for very extended periods. We're trying to weather the storm, I feel like we're still in the stormy phase of growing. I don't know this year if we'll get to the forming and really preforming stage. Hopefully it comes at the right time."

Among the nine players, each one has produced lead games and impactful moments. Rylie Stephens, one of four transfer players as graduate student-athletes, leads the team in scoring with a 14.9 points per game average. Another graduate student Haidyn Pitsch leads in 3-pointers with 51.

Delaney Trushel, who transferred into UWF before last season from South Carolina-Aiken, produced a season-high 21 points in the win against West Alabama and has been effective from the perimeter or winning a one-on-one matchup driving to the basket.

"She's finding space and even changing directions to find space," Yelton said. "She is hitting the open 3 on a regular basis. She is making free throws. She is rebounding well for us. She's doing great things on the defensive end. She is playing a well-rounded game. That is what a fifth-year senior should look like. She is having a great year academically, a great year playing basketball. She is having a lot of fun."

Another vital part of this team is returning senior Bella Stone, a California native, who has thrived as UWF's starting point guard this season.

"Her stamina is amazing," Yelton said. "She is like the energizer bunny, she rarely gets tired. And when she does, you're not going to see it. She pushes the ball as hard as all get-up on the court. She knows how to distribute to open players. We're encouraging her to score more. She is getting us big minutes. She has the hardest defensive assignment the last six or seven games."

The team has pushed through the challenge of playing this style without a deep roster. The Argos have often grinded their way through a slow start or a rough middle quarter to finish with wins.

"We knew that was going to be an issue for us with the smaller roster, playing the style we are playing," Yelton said. "But I feel at times that's been a bless. Because (players) know there is no one else, you're going to have to do it."