CARROLLTON, Ga. - March Madness. A New Season. Postseason basketball. Call it what you may, the stakes get a little higher this week as UWG women's basketball opens play at the ASUN Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida.
West Georgia (17-12, 10-8 ASUN) open postseason play as the ASUN's seventh seed and take on the 10th-seeded North Florida (9-20, 4-14 ASUN) Osprey's at Swisher Gymnasium on the campus of Jacksonville University.
It's the third matchup between the two teams, and UWG looks for a third victory over UNF to secure their first victory in ASUN Tournament history in their second appearance.
The Wolves defeated North Florida 76-61 in Carrollton in just the third game of the ASUN slate and then a month later knocked off the Ospreys 75-68 on their home floor.
All-ASUN First Teamer Sydne Tolbert looks to extend her stellar junior season as the Louisville native averages 14.2 points per game and leads the conference in field goal percentage. She had two excellent performances in the regular season against UNF, scoring 19 against UNF in Carrollton and putting up 18 in the win in Jacksonville. Tolbert shot a combined 14-of-28 from the field and dished out eight assists in those games.
Jasmine Jones averaged 15.0 per game in the season series against UNF, but lacked consistency as she hit six three-pointers and scored 22 at home and finished with eight in the road win.
Asia Donald, who wrapped up the regular season just ahead of Tolbert for the team lead in scoring, averaged 13.0 points per game in the two matchups with UNF.
Another difference maker for the Wolves is Destiny Jones who had 12 points and seven rebounds in the home win and then recorded one of her eight double-doubles of the season in Jacksonville, scoring 14 points with 10 rebounds.
For the Ospreys, Alonya Waldon leads the team in scoring at 11.0 per game, and she had two big games against the Wolves, scoring 24 in The Coliseum before dropping 19 a month later. Jamisyn Stinson is second on UNF's team in scoring at 10.3 per game, although the Wolves contained her well in both matchups, limiting her to 13 combined points.
UNF will be without ASUN All-Freshman selection Dezuray McGill who is suspended for the game. McGill scored just two points in the matchup in Carrollton, but went off for 18 in the game at UNF Arena.
The winner of Tuesday's matchup moves on to the ASUN Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 5 against the number two-seed Jacksonville.
Tuesday's game tips at 5 p.m. from Swisher Gymnasium in Jacksonville. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Fans making the trip to support the Wolves can be puchased here.
