Women's Basketball Defeats Birmingham Southern in Home Opener
11/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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» Box Score
By Chris Woodfin
TUSCALOOSA -- Senior Beth Vice keyed an early second half run by the University of Alabama women's basketball team helping lead the Crimson Tide (2-0) to a 75-58 win over the Birmingham-Southern Panthers (1-1) in Alabama's regular season home opener. The Tide has now won 10 straight home openers.
In a span of 1:40 of the second stanza, Vice scored 11 straight points, including three straight three-pointers, for Alabama during a 16-6 run to give the Tide a comfortable 11 point lead.
Vice's second half run was motivated by Alabama's first half performance.
"I was mad at myself at halftime," Vice said. "I felt that I didn't do the things I was supposed to in the first half. So I came out and just executed better. We all came out and did what we had to do."
Alabama head coach Rick Moody credited Vice with helping to jumpstart Alabama's offense in the second half.
"Beth Vice made some shots in the second half that opened up the lead for us," Moody said. "When you make shots it gives your team some enthusiasm."
For the game, Vice finished with 17 points on six of nine shooting, including hitting of seven from three point range, and also grabbed seven rebounds. The Florence, Ky. native moved into third place on Alabama's all-time three point shots made list, surpassing current Alabama assistant Brittney Ezell (201). Vice now trails former Tide All-American Niesa Johnson (265) and former Bama star Betsy Harris (273).
Senior Jamilah Johns continued her strong play in the paint for the Tide picking up her second straight double-double. Johns finished the game with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Also contributing in the Alabama victory were sophomore forward Natasha Gamble and junior guard Manisha Redus. Gamble scored a career high 10 points while Redus dished out a career best six assists.
On defense, the Tide forced 18 turnovers and picked up 11 steals.
Moody also credited the Tide's defense with helping to spark the Alabama offense.
"I thought our full court pressure got us flowing in the game," Moody said. "I don't know how many turnovers it created, but it got us going."
Birmingham-Southern had four players in double figure points, led by Lindsay Boyett with 13 points. Stacey Anthony chipped in 11 followed by April Brown (12) and Anna Morton (10).
The Crimson Tide will spend the Thanksgiving Holiday in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Hampton Inn Six Flags/UTSA Classic. Alabama will play UTSA on Friday night at 7 p.m. and then meet Stephen F. Austin at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Both Bama games can be heard on WACT 1230 AM in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama (2-0) 30-45 75
Birmingham Southern (1-1) 28-30 58
