Box Score

PENSACOLA, Fla. – West Florida's Toynetta Johnson hit a game-winning jumper in the final eight seconds to defeat West Alabama, 72-71, Thursday at the UWF Field House.

“We came out and battled as hard as we have all season,” UWA head coach Craig Roden said. “We gave ourselves an opportunity down the stretch, but we didn't execute like we should have.”

West Florida (5-16; 2-11) battled back from an 11 point deficit with less than five minutes remaining in the game to snap a four-game losing slide. The loss drops West Alabama (9-12; 4-9) to its third straight loss.   

Four Argonauts scored in double figures, while the Tigers had three. Jaymie Druding led UWF with 16 points. Nikkia Jordan recorded her sixth 20 point game for the Tigers this season. She ended with 28, her second-highest scoring performance this year.  

Both teams battled in the first half through seven lead changes. In the final 27 seconds of the half, UWA's Nikkia Jordan worked her way through the Argonaut defense to hit a jumper in the paint and put the Tigers up 33-30 going into halftime.

There were 10 more lead changes in the second half until the Tigers extended to an 11 point lead with 4:30 left to play. UWF battled back within one point in the final 39 seconds with a Druding layup. A Tiger turnover on the following possession led to the game-winning jumper by Druding.  

“This was a game that we should have won,” Roden said. “Some of our issues were due to our lack of being able to have live practice this week. But now we just have to get ready to play one of the hottest teams in the league right now.”

The Tigers remain on the road to take on Valdosta State on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.