UWA women down Tuskegee in opener

LIVINGSTON – Jasmine Hampton scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead West Alabama to a 67-54 women’s college basketball victory over Tuskegee Wednesday at Pruitt Hall Gym.

The successful season-opener for UWA leaves the Tigers with a 1-0 record with Stillman coming to Pruitt Hall Thursday for a 6 p.m. tipoff. Tuskegee dropped to 0-3.

“We played better than we have in the exhibitions and took care of the basketball,” UWA head coach Craig Roden said. “We knew that if we held the turnovers to under 20 we had a chance to win. We only had six at the half and 16 for the game.

“We rebounded well and got a good balance of inside and outside play,” Roden said. “Jasmine got us some tough baskets inside and battled on the boards and our perimeter folks shot it well against their zone (defense).”

The Tigers limited Tuskegee to just 13 percent from the floor in the first half to build a 25-14 advantage. In the second half UWA converted 53 percent (15-of-28) from the floor and led by as many as 22.

UWA won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Tuskegee 67-54. The Tigers also made 6-of-16 from behind the three-point arc, while Tuskegee was 2-of-14.

Quentinette Odom chipped in 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds to support Hampton’s effort for UWA. Jada Williams collected eight rebounds and Hampton blocked two shots.

Kajuanna Rivers scored 15 to lead Tuskegee scoring. Marie McAbee chipped in 14 and Rachel Brownlee 11. McAbee led TU rebounders with seven.