Women's Basketball Defeats Illinois-Chicago, 80-72
12/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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» Box Score
By Chris Woodfin
TUSCALOOSA - After leading by only one at the half, the University of Alabama women's basketball team scored the first nine points of the second half and never looked back, holding off Illinois-Chicago (5-3) 80-72 at Coleman Coliseum.
Alabama's inside game proved to be too much for UIC as the Tide outscored the Flames 30-14 in the paint and won the rebound battle 51-37.
The Tide duo of Jamilah Johns and Natasha Gamble led the way for the Tide's inside attack combining for 31 points and 16 boards.
Also contributing to the Alabama victory were Beth Vice and Katie Sipe who scored 18 and 11 respectively. The duo combined to hit 5-of-11 from three point range. Vice also contributed a game high six assists.
Alabama head coach Rick Moody was pleased with the Tide's rebounding and effort in the second half.
"We did a nice job on the boards and they didn't get a lot of second shots, just a lot of free throws," Moody said. "I challenged them at the half because we had given up 41 points and only had three offensive rebounds and forced three turnovers. We came out in the second half and had nine offensive rebounds and forced nine turnovers. We just played hard and that was the key. You've got to have people that will play hard."
For the game Alabama shot 49 percent from the field while holding the Flames to 33 percent.
UIC's LeKesha Williams led all scorers with 24 points.
The Flames' Jaysie Chambers collected a double-double with 11 points and ten boards, and Zsuzsa Tarnai and Tina Thompson each scored ten.
The Crimson Tide gets very little rest as Alabama returns to action on Wednesday night in a game at South Alabama. The Tide and Jaguars tip off at 7 p.m. in the Mitchell Center in Mobile, Ala.
Alabama (7-1) 42-38 80
Illinois-Chicago (5-3) 41-31 72
