Jan. 16, 2006
PENSACOLA, Fla. - Leading by three with 12:15 remaining in the game, West Florida went on a 25-6 run over an eight minute span en route to an 81-58 victory over North Alabama on Monday at the UWF Field House. West Florida (13-3, 4-0 GSC) won their seventh straight game. It is the Argonauts longest winning streak since a 15-game winning streak in the 1998-99 season. North Alabama falls to 2-14, 0-4 in the GSC.
West Florida used an 11-0 run that extended back to the first half to open up a 35-25 advantage early in the second half. West Florida led by 12 before North Alabama used an 11-2 run in just over two minutes to cut the deficit to three. After Lauren Qualls's lay-up cut the West Florida lead to three, Lyndsay Munro answered with a baseline jumper. But North Alabama's Shayla Long answered with a lay-up to cut the West Florida lead to 47-44. Michelle Gibson started the Argonauts 20-6 run by connecting on consecutive three-pointers. Gibson's second three-pointer started a run of eight consecutive points. By the time the scoring run ended, West Florida led by 20 points.
A pair of runs highlighted the first half. Melissa Nafzger scored five points as the Argonauts started the game on a 7-0 run. But North Alabama immediately answered with a 10-0 run as India Hackman and Qualls each scored five points. The remaining 12 minutes of the first half featured five lead changes. Trailing by one with 2:29 remaining, West Florida used an 8-0 run to open up a seven-point lead at halftime. Erin Vierling scored the Argonauts final five points of the first half.
Nafzger posted her third consecutive double double with 11 points and 15 rebounds. She also tied her school record with nine blocks. Nafzger recorded nine blocks earlier this season against Mobile. Nafzger is averaging 16.3 rebounds and 6.7 blocks per game over the last three games. Michelle Gibson recorded 23 points for the second consecutive game. She added a season-high eight assists, while adding five steals. Vierling added 13 points, while Ann Ching contributed 12 points. Amber Rutherford scored 13 of her team-high 16 points in the second half for North Alabama. She also added eight rebounds. India Hackman collected 11 points and nine rebounds.
West Florida will return to action this Saturday against the University of Montevallo. Tip-off is set for 4:30 pm at the UWF Field House.
