CARROLLTON, Ga. - Jasmine Jones hit six three-pointers and Sydne Tolbert dropped 19 in the UWG women's basketball Atlantic Sun Conference home opener as the Wolves dominated North Florida in a 76-61 victory at The Coliseum on Thursday night.
"That was a great team win. Any conference win, we're excited about," said head coach Joanna Reitz. "This is a very tough conference and for us to come out and dominate the way we did in the first half, I thought we were strong defensively and executed pretty well offensively, so I was pleased."
West Georgia (9-5, 2-1 ASUN) led for 90 percent of the game and held North Florida (5-9, 0-3 ASUN) to 33.9 percent from the field.
Jones, who leads the conference in three-pointers per game, finished with 22 points while Tolbert finished with 19 on 8-of-13 shooting to go with six rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
UWG shot 50 percent in the opening quarter and converted all five shots at the free throw line, opening up a 21-11 lead after 10 minutes of play.
The offense was even more efficient in the next quarter, shooting 8-of-13 from the field and building the lead to as much as 22 before leading by 21 at 43-22 at the break. UWG hit five three-pointers in the first half, with four of them coming from Jasmine Jones.
North Florida came out battling in the third quarter, getting the deficit down to 13 at one point. UWG closed the quarter on an 11-2 run and led 63-39.
West Georgia extended their lead to as much as 33 in the final quarter, with Reitz able to rest her starters and play reserves for the final four minutes of the game.
UNF outscored the Wolves 22-13 in the final quarter.
"In the second half, particularly the end of the game, we have to do a better job of finishing it out, and we know that," Reitz added. "They did a good job with their press in the fourth quarter, and we got sloppy and turned it over. We didn't finish it the way we wanted to, but that doesn't negate the great effort we had in the three quarters."
Destiny Jones also finished in double-figures with 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Grace O'Gara led the Wolves in assists with five.
West Georgia has now won back-to-back ASUN games and is at home for three straight games. The Wolves host Jacksonville on Saturday, January 10 at 2 p.m.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
- Asia Donald led all players with 12 rebounds which was her first-ever double-digit rebounding game. The Hobart, Indiana native just missed a double-double as she had nine points.
- UWG remained unbeaten at home this season, improving to 7-0 her at The Coliseum.
- UWG's defense held UNF to 5-of-22 from beyond the arc and three of the Osprey's made three-pointers came in the final quarter.
