LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama women's basketball team returns to Livingston this week for a pivotal Gulf South Conference home stand, welcoming Mississippi College and Delta State to Pruitt Hall.
West Alabama will host Mississippi College on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m. during Greek Night, before facing Delta State on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m. as part of Black History Night. The Tigers enter the week with a 9–9 overall record and a 7–8 mark in Gulf South Conference play, while Mississippi College sits at 8–11 overall (7–7 GSC) and Delta State comes in at 11–8 overall (9–5 GSC).
West Alabama will be looking to flip the script after dropping both meetings against the Mississippi schools earlier this season. The Tigers opened a December road swing with a 58–47 loss at Delta State on Dec. 18, a game in which UWA was limited to 30.0 percent shooting from the field and just two made three-pointers, despite
Kendall Lacoste's team-high 12 points and
Bellah Machen adding 11. Two days later, West Alabama fell 75–62 at Mississippi College on Dec. 20, struggling again from long range by shooting 1-for-16 from three-point territory, while Mississippi College's Nia Coleman scored 30 points to pace the Choctaws. Both games came during a challenging holiday road stretch and remain clear points of emphasis entering the rematches.
Offensively, the Tigers are led by
Bellah Machen, who is averaging 16.6 points per game while shooting better than 43 percent from the field and over 82 percent at the free-throw line this season.
Haley Nichols provides an efficient inside presence, averaging 13.0 points per game on nearly 60 percent shooting, while
Kendall Lacoste has added scoring punch from the perimeter, averaging 10.7 points per contest, although she has missed the last nine games due to an injury.
West Alabama enters the week coming off two competitive road losses in Tennessee, falling 78–75 at Trevecca Nazarene and 84–80 at Lee, games in which the Tigers showed improved offensive balance compared to their December road trip. That progress will be critical as UWA looks to capitalize on the home court and tighten the GSC standings.
Mississippi College enters Thursday's contest on a two-game winning streak, building confidence after wins over Montevallo and AUM. In the previous meeting with UWA, the Choctaws shot 46.7 percent from three-point range and controlled the fourth quarter, with Coleman (30 points), Vivian Sketoe (15 points), and Valencia McFall (14 points) all reaching double figures.
Delta State arrives in Livingston Saturday with momentum, riding a three-game winning streak entering the weekend, though the Lady Statesmen will first face the University of Alabama-Huntsville on Thursday. Delta State is led by Dakiya Toney, who posted 16 points and nine rebounds in the earlier meeting against West Alabama, along with Jariyah Williamson, who added 14 points, and Olivia Allen, who contributed 10 points while going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the December matchup.
West Alabama fans will have two opportunities to support the Tigers at home this week, with both Gulf South Conference matchups taking place at Pruitt Hall in Livingston. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday against Mississippi College and 2 p.m. Saturday against Delta State, as the Lady Tigers look to defend their home court and avenge December losses against visiting Mississippi programs.
