LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The West Alabama women's basketball team fell to West Florida 70-61 on Saturday afternoon at Pruitt Hall in a Gulf South Conference matchup. 

The Tigers started strong, taking an 18-13 lead in the first quarter behind balanced scoring and efficient shooting. Shayla Golden led the way with a team-high 24 points and nine rebounds off the bench, while Kendall Lacoste added 16 points, including three three-pointers. 

West Florida responded in the second quarter, outscoring West Alabama 18-14 to take a narrow 31-30 lead at halftime. Rylie Stephens was dominant for the Argonauts, finishing with a double-double of 24 points and 13 rebounds.

The Tigers struggled offensively in the third quarter, shooting just 17.6% from the field, which allowed West Florida to extend its lead. Julia Rodriguez and Callie Cowan contributed seven points each for UWA, but the Tigers couldn't keep pace with West Florida's efficient second-chance scoring and fast breaks.

Despite a late push in the fourth quarter, the Tigers couldn't close the gap as West Florida capitalized on its depth, with 21 points coming from the bench and 23 points off turnovers. UWA finished the game shooting 33.8% from the field and 27.3% from three-point range.

The Tigers will look to rebound as they travel to Lee University on Thursday, December 12th, for a 4:30 p.m. tip-off.