The University of West Georgia women’s basketball team will attempt to make it a season sweep of its newest Gulf South Conference in-state rival today when the Wolves take on Shorter University at 2 p.m. in Rome.

UWG (12-6, 6-4 GSC) won a 61-55 overtime decision against the Hawks (11-7, 6-4) back on Dec. 2, and both are now knotted up in the league standings, just a half-game behind North Alabama (13-6, 6-3) and Delta State (11-6, 6-3) in the loss column. Union (13-5, 8-2) currently leads the league, but it is not eligible for postseason play this season, just like Shorter, though games against the two teams count in the GSC standings.

West Georgia is fresh off Thursday’s 51-48 home win over Alabama-Huntsville, while the Hawks dropped a 60-46 contest at West Alabama two days ago.

Shorter features former Carrollton High School standout Karisma Boykin, who leads the team at 12.1 points per game, 67 assists and 39 steals, while also averaging 5.0 rebounds per game.

West Georgia men: The Wolves (7-11, 4-6) are mired in a season-long, five-game losing streak and will try to snap out of it today in a 4 p.m. contest at Shorter, which has been a house of horrors for opponents in recent years. The Hawks (13-5, 7-3) have won 30 of their past 31 games at the Winthrop-King Centre, including owning an 8-1 mark there this season.

West Georgia earned a 78-63 victory over Shorter on Dec. 2 in Carrollton, but the two teams have went in different directions since that time, with the Wolves dropping eight of their last 12, while the Hawks have won eight of 11 since the early-conference setback.

Shorter won a 73-68 road tilt at West Alabama on Thursday night, getting a 23-point performance from guard Dedric Ware, while backcourt mate Walter Hill posted a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

The Wolves suffered a 59-42 home loss to No. 11 Alabama-Huntsville on Thursday evening.

UWG Women’s Tennis

The University of West Georgia women’s tennis team opens its spring campaign today when it plays host to North Alabama in a 1 p.m. match at Sunset Hills Country Club.

UWG coach Michael Coleman is looking forward to the challenge of facing the Lions, a perennial contender in the GSC.

“I am expecting the girls to come together as a team as we begin our season against North Alabama,” Coleman said. “We have a young roster, and the girls have been working hard at practice and getting to know each other — both on and off the court. They will need to support each other in both singles and doubles play to have the season we expect from them.”