LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama women's basketball team used a dominant defensive performance and a strong second-half surge to claim a 57-43 victory over Trevecca Nazarene on Thursday night at Pruitt Hall.  

The Tigers (3-15, 3-11 GSC) controlled the game from the outset, holding the Trojans (6-14, 3-11 GSC) to just five points in the first quarter and outscoring them 34-22 in the second half to secure their third conference win of the season.  

West Alabama jumped out to a 13-5 lead after the opening 10 minutes, forcing Trevecca into a 2-for-12 shooting performance. Kendall Lacoste led the charge for UWA, finishing with a team-high 14 points while also hitting a three-pointer. The Tigers built a 23-21 halftime lead despite struggling from beyond the arc (1-of-9 in the first half).  

UWA broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring the Trojans 20-14 behind efficient shooting from Shayla Golden and Callie Cowan. Golden posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Cowan added 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting. The Tigers' aggressive defense capitalized on Trevecca's mistakes, turning 30 Trojan turnovers into 20 points.  

Sydney Schwallie facilitated the offense with a game-high seven assists, helping UWA dominate inside with 40 points in the paint. Kaedre Denson provided key minutes off the bench, chipping in four points and six rebounds.  
 
West Alabama's defense limited Trevecca to 34.7% shooting from the field and just 3-of-7 from the free-throw line. Tatum Shaw was the lone bright spot for the Trojans, scoring a game-high 18 points while hitting four three-pointers. Cheyenne Trotter added nine points and seven rebounds, but Trevecca struggled to find consistent offense, particularly in the fourth quarter, where they managed just eight points.  

With the win, the Tigers pick up momentum heading into their next matchup against Lee University on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 2 p.m. in Pruitt Hall.