The roller coaster that is University of Montevallo women&8217;s basketball is in the middle of its second climb, after defeating the University of North Alabama, 64-54, and the University of Alabama-Hutnsville, 63-42.

Montevallo&8217;s wins extended their streak to three and comes at the right time for a team that is suffering from a shortage of players, dressing just seven for Monday&8217;s start with the Chargers.

&8220;This season has been up and down,&8221; said senior guard Malissa Harris. &8220;Winning five, then losing four, and now winning three. We&8217;re just starting to get back on track. It&8217;s been pretty rough with people out injured.&8221;

After starting the season with just 10 players on the roster, the Lady Falcons lost two players early in the season due to injury. Monday they were without two more – leading scorer Trelice Moore and point guard Jennifer Hendricks.

&8220;The injuries have made

us play harder. When one person is down, we all have to step up to fill in for that one,&8221; said junior guard Veronica Jackson, who posted a double-double 24 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in Monday&8217;s win.

Harris, who just missed a double-double Saturday with 20 points and nine rebounds,

posted UM&8217;s third-ever triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists to close the opening weekend of the Gulf South Conference schedule.

&8220;It never crossed my mind. I&8217;ve always thought it would be exciting to have a triple double,&8221; Harris said.

&8220;She did a great job stepping up this weekend,&8221; said head coach Roy Dixon. &8220;She&8217;s also injured with a pulled groin and still stayed in the game and played through it. I think that says something about her character.&8221;

Dixon enters GSC play with an identical 9-5, 2-0 record to his first season in 2005-06 when his team finished in the second round of the conference tournament.

UM will look to win their fourth straight Saturday when they travel to the State University of West Georgia.

&8220;We have enough talent to be able to play…it&8217;s just a matter of slowing it down to give ourselves a chance,&8221; Dixon said