LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The West Alabama Tigers will close out their 2024-25 campaign on Thursday evening when they host the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers at Pruitt Hall. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m., marking the final game of the regular season for both teams. While this will be the last outing for West Alabama, UAH has already secured a spot in the upcoming Gulf South Conference Tournament.
West Alabama (4-21, 4-17 GSC) aims to end the season on a high note in front of their home crowd. Despite the challenges this season, the Tigers have seen standout performances from
Kendall Lacoste, who leads the team in scoring at 15.0 points per game while also contributing 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest.
Shayla Golden has been a force in the paint, averaging 11.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while
Kaedre Denson adds 8.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game with a team-high 22 blocks.
As a team, the Tigers average 62.4 points per game while shooting 38.7 percent from the field. They will need to take care of the basketball against a disciplined UAH defense, as turnovers have been an issue, with UWA averaging 19.3 per game compared to 15.8 for opponents.
UAH (22-5, 17-4 GSC) enters the game as one of the top teams in the conference and will look to build momentum ahead of the GSC Tournament. The Chargers have been dominant offensively, averaging 73.9 points per game while shooting an efficient 46.1 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from beyond the arc.
Lili Wilken has been the catalyst for UAH's offense, leading the team with 17.0 points per game while shooting nearly 49 percent from the field. Alexis Woods provides a strong inside presence with 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, while Millie Brown has been a threat from deep, knocking down 73 three-pointers at a 36.3 percent clip.
One of UAH's biggest strengths is rebounding, where they hold a +12.3 margin over opponents, averaging 40.9 boards per game compared to their opponents' 28.6. That advantage on the glass could prove to be a key factor against a UWA team that has struggled in rebounding battles throughout the season.
The Tigers will need to slow down UAH's high-powered offense and find a way to control the pace of the game. For UWA to have success, Lacoste and Golden will need to lead the scoring effort, while Denson and the rest of the frontcourt must work to neutralize UAH's rebounding advantage. If the Tigers can limit turnovers and hit timely shots, they could challenge the Chargers in their season finale.
With UAH looking ahead to the postseason, West Alabama has an opportunity to play the role of spoiler and close out the year with a statement win at home.
