HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The University of West Alabama women's basketball team was unable to stop the hot shooting the University of Alabama in Huntsville, as the Chargers picked up the 69-59 win over the Tigers, Sunday afternoon from Kelly Court at Spragins Hall. 

UAH earned its first Gulf South Conference win of the 2023-24 season, now 1-2 and 2-4 overall. UWA falls to 1-6 and 0-3 in league action. 

"Once we came out swinging in the third quarter, moving the ball and making strong passes. We just did not stay consistent. Right now, we have all the pieces to the puzzle. Once we figure out our consistency, we will be a great team," said graduate assistant coach Zoe Watts. 

Despite the Tigers starting the game with a 4-2 lead early, the visitors had no answer to the Chargers' hot shooting, going 7-of-12 from the field in the opening stanza. UWA trailed as much as five points, 12-7, with 4:06 left in the period and were behind 19-15 at the end of the quarter. 

In the second, after being down as many as eight points, 23-15, the Tigers answered with a 9-1 run. With 5:37 left in the period, Kendall Lacoste drained a triple after a UAH turnover to tie the score at 24.

However, the Chargers reclaimed the lead for good, ending the period on a 12-6 run and a six-point halftime lead, 36-30. 

The third quarter saw UWA take advantage with six points off of four turnovers by UAH in the period. The Tigers also used their shooting from the charity stripe as well. Maryanne Logsdon converted a three-point play that made it a 42-41 lead for the Chargers. 

On the other end, nobody could stop Bella Machen, as she knocked down a shot from downtown for her 20th point of the afternoon. 

The Tigers in the fourth stanza made it a 54-47 score after a Shayla Golden layup, but that did not phase the home-standing Chargers, as a layup, steal and 3-pointer made it a 12-point affair, 59-47, for UAH. 

Lacoste did make it a two-possession game with 6:07 left in the ballgame, 61-55, but a near five-minute field goal drought haunted the Tigers for the remainder of the game. 

Despite the setback, the Tigers posted their best day from the charity stripe, converting 15-of-19 for a 78.9 percentage. Leading the charge was Kamille Clark's 5-of-6 from the line.

Kendall Lacoste posted the UWA high in scoring with 17 points with four 3-pointers, and Shayla Golden picked up 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting, adding six rebounds and two thefts.

Julia Rodriguez, despite being in foul trouble, added 10 points and four steals, while Maryanne Logsdon dished out five assists. 

Bellah Machen was 8-of-13 from the floor and 5-of-10 from 3-point range, as she finished with a game-high 23 points. 

The Tigers will now prepare for final exams this week and will prepare for another road trip to Shorter on Friday evening from Rome, Ga.