LIVINGSTON, Ala. – West Alabama women's hoops opened the 2010-11 campaign with a 56-48 region win over Barry on Saturday afternoon in Pruitt Hall. The victory marks the second straight season opening win for the program – the first time the Tigers have accomplished that feat since the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. UWA starts the season at 1-0 while Barry falls to 0-1.

The win marks the first over a Sunshine State Conference member since the Tigers outlasted Eckerd College 59-58 during the 2008-09 season.

Mystee Dale led the Tigers in her UWA debut with a double-double. The Laurel, Miss. native totaled 12 points and 13 rebounds – all defensive – in the win. Latashia Greer posted a team-best 14 points for the Red and White while Keiara Middleton added 10 points off the bench.

Shanna Suttington led Barry with 14 points followed by 11 from Adrienne Hicks. Mazel Huyler pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds in the setback.

A close affair through the entire opening stanza saw UWA head into the locker room clinging to a one-point advantage at 25-24. The Red and White opened the second half with a 7-0 run to push the margin to 32-24. The Buccaneers worked the advantage down to 38-36 behind a 10-4 run. The scoring spurt was capped by a jumper from Huyler – two of her eight points on the afternoon. The Tigers eventually widened the lead out to nine points at the 4:03 mark on a free throw by Greer. The nine-point lead was the largest of the game for West Alabama.

UWA finished the night shooting 36.5-percent from the floor after shooting a paltry 28-percent in the first half against a stingy Barry defense, while the UWA defense limited the Bucs to shoot just 31.1-percent for the game.

The Tigers connected on 33.3-percent of their shots from the behind the arc.

West Alabama returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 23 as UWA travels to Talladega College. Tip-off at is slated for 6 p.m.