Danielle Norquest carried the UWF women’s basketball team (3-4, 3-4 GSC) to a 71-61 win over the Lee Flames (6-3, 6-3 GSC) on Saturday.

Norquest was 9-13 from the floor and 3-6 from the three-point line, tying her career high of 27 points and grabbing 13 rebounds while coming up with 5 steals. 

“I was feeling good,” Norquest said. “If all four of those girls are working hard, it’s easier for me to get a three off or get the rebound.”

While Norquest helped UWF get the win over Lee, she also led the team to career-milestone win 200 for coach Stephanie Yelton.

Yelton recognized win 200 but remained humble while praising her team. 

“200 [wins] is a great milestone for any head coach,” Yelton said. “In those 200 games, I’ve never scored a point or gotten a rebound; it’s players who have given their heart, soul, and desire to make that happen.”

This win is also memorable as, entering play, UWF had only won four of ten games all-time and had only won two of their five home games against the Flames, but forcing Lee into tough shot after tough shot led to Norquest and the Argos taking the advantage by halftime.

“Our first half was not as good,” Norquest said. “We had to punch them in the mouth and get your foot on their throat and come out swinging.”

West Florida was off to a shaky start. UWF allowed 19 points in the first quarter while only scoring eight.

However, the Argos ended the first half tied 33-33 leading to a hot streak that led into the second half.

In the second half, UWF had a 66.67 field goal percentage with Norquest scoring 13 of the 38 points in the second half.

Going on a 13-0 run that led UWF to a gigantic 60-39 lead, Lee was forced into playing a full court press defense for the remaining seven minutes of the fourth quarter.

Lee’s full court press gave the Argos a problem, leading to an 11-0 run for the Flames that cut the lead to 10 points, but UWF pulled through with solid defensive play, ending the game 71-61. 

The next game for UWF women’s basketball is in Rome, Ga. against the Shorter Hawks on Friday, Jan 29 at 6 p.m.