FLORENCE, Ala. – The University of West Alabama women's basketball team dropped its second straight Gulf South Conference contest as UWA (17-7, 5-5 GSC) fell 53-43 at North Alabama on Saturday afternoon. UNA – which clinched the GSC East Division earlier this week – improved to 20-5 on the campaign and remained unblemished in conference play.

The Tigers have fallen in four of their last six outings – all in GSC action.

Mystee Dale and LaShandra McCoy each totaled double figures in the losing effort. Dale led the team with 18 points followed by McCoy's 10 points. Latashia Greer paced the Tigers on the boards with eight rebounds.

After leading 29-22 at the half, the Lions pushed the advantage out to 13 points in the first five minutes of the second stanza. Both teams would go cold scoring following the 39-26 advantage – a drought that would last nearly seven minutes.

Dale finally broke the scoreless streak as she connected on the backend of a pair of free throws. The Purple and Gold used a quick, 7-2 scoring spurt to extend their margin to 17 points – the largest lead of the game for UNA.

Larrenda Rockwell – who scored five points on the day - and Dale led a 12-2 scoring run for the Tigers to nip the lead to 48-41. The mark was the closest the Tigers got the remainder of the way as UNA hit six of its final seven free throws to close out the game.

Niala Harris led all scorers with 20 points while Sanqueeta Meardith added 16 points. Harris and Sequoyah Cliff tied for the team lead in rebounds with six each.

West Alabama returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 24 as the Tigers host West Georgia. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Live stats, audio and video will be available at www.uwaathletics.com.

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