CARROLLTON, Ga. (Interstat) — West Georgia defeated North Florida 76-61 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at The Coliseum. The Wolves built a commanding 43-22 halftime lead and withstood a late push from the Ospreys to secure the conference victory. Alonya Waldon led North Florida with 24 points. West Georgia was paced by Jasmine Jones with 22 points and Sydne Tolbert, who added 19 points and four assists. The Wolves improved to 9-5 overall, while the Ospreys fell to 5-9. West Georgia shot 49.1% from the floor and capitalized on 21 North Florida turnovers. The Ospreys shot just 33.9% but made 18 of 23 free throws in the loss. The teams will meet again in Jacksonville on Feb. 7.

CARROLLTON, Ga. (Interstat) — The West Georgia Wolves used a dominant first half and weathered a late push to defeat the North Florida Ospreys 76-61 in an ASUN Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at The Coliseum. The Wolves improved to 9-5 overall, while the Ospreys fell to 5-9. West Georgia established control early, leveraging its defensive pressure and efficient offense to build a commanding lead. The Wolves closed the first quarter on a 12-2 run, capped by a pair of Jasmine Jones free throws with 48 seconds left, to take a 21-11 advantage. The onslaught continued in the second period as West Georgia extended its lead, heading into halftime with a 43-22 cushion. The Wolves’ defense was the catalyst, forcing 12 first-half turnovers and converting them into 16 points. Offensively, West Georgia shot 48% from the field in the opening half, compared to North Florida’s 24%. The Ospreys struggled to find any rhythm, scoring just 11 points in each of the first two quarters. Jasmine Jones led the Wolves with 22 points, including four 3-pointers. Sydne Tolbert added 19 points, four assists and four steals, while Destiny Jones provided a crucial 12 points off the bench. Grace O’Gara orchestrated the offense with five assists. The most important stretch of the game came late in the third quarter and early in the fourth, as North Florida mounted a significant challenge. After trailing by as many as 23 points, the Ospreys outscored West Georgia 17-10 in the third quarter and continued their surge into the final period. A driving layup by Alonya Waldon cut the deficit to 68-57 with 5:33 remaining, capping a 22-8 run for North Florida that spanned the quarters. Waldon, who finished with a game-high 24 points, was the engine of the comeback attempt, attacking the basket and drawing fouls. West Georgia, however, responded with critical plays to stem the tide. Following Waldon’s basket, Asia Donald answered with a tip-in on the next possession, and Sydne Tolbert converted a steal into a driving layup moments later to push the lead back to 74-59 with 4:58 left, effectively sealing the victory. North Florida’s improved second-half performance was fueled by Waldon and a more aggressive approach. The Ospreys scored 39 points after halftime, shooting 41% from the field and getting to the free-throw line 16 times. Elle Blatchford contributed eight points, three assists and two blocks for North Florida. Despite the rally, West Georgia’s early work proved insurmountable. The Wolves finished the game shooting 49% from the field and scored 38 points in the paint. They also won the turnover battle, committing 21 to North Florida’s 19, but scored 24 points off Ospreys’ mistakes. West Georgia’s victory was its second in conference play, while North Florida searches for its first ASUN win. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Jacksonville on Feb. 7.

CARROLLTON, Ga. (Interstat) — A surging West Georgia looks to continue its strong start to ASUN Conference play when it hosts a struggling North Florida team in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball matchup on Thursday night. The Wolves (8-5) opened league play with a dominant 106-65 road win at Bellarmine on Saturday, showcasing a potent offense that has averaged 86 points over its last three victories. West Georgia, however, has shown inconsistency, sandwiching that win and others around a 53-69 loss at Eastern Kentucky on New Year’s Day. North Florida (5-8) seeks to halt a three-game skid, most recently an 80-55 home loss to Austin Peay. The Ospreys are 1-3 in their last four games, with the lone win coming in a 96-82 shootout against Coastal Georgia. A key matchup will feature the teams’ top guards. West Georgia’s Jasmine Jones is coming off a stellar performance, scoring 23 points with five rebounds and four assists in the win over Bellarmine. She has topped 20 points in three of her last five outings but was held to just three points in the loss to EKU. For North Florida, Alexa Washington has been a consistent bright spot. She led the Ospreys with 15 points and four assists in the loss to Austin Peay, and averaged 13.5 points over the two conference games last week. Her ability to facilitate and score will be crucial against West Georgia’s pressure. The Wolves have found success at The Coliseum, boasting a 5-1 home record this season. North Florida is 3-4 on the road, with those wins coming against non-Division I or lower-tier competition. This game is the first of a regular-season series between the ASUN newcomers, with the rematch scheduled for Feb. 7 in Jacksonville. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST.