Bama Women's Basketball Falls at South Alabama, 79-57
12/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
 |
|
MOBILE, Ala. - For the second straight road game the University of Alabama women's basketball team ran into a hot-shooting opponent as South Alabama handed the Tide a 79-57 loss on Wednesday night.
South Alabama (5-4) connected on a school record 13 three-pointers in the game to snap a 12-game losing streak to the Tide. For the game, USA hit 13 of 33 three-point attempts and benefited from an 18-7 edge in free throw attempts including a 14-2 advantage in the second half. With the loss, Alabama falls to 7-2 on the year.
"I'm just disappointed and embarrassed to have a team of mine play with such little emotion," said UA head coach Rick Moody. "I have to give South Alabama a lot of credit for playing with great emotion and confidence. I told our team that I felt like we were coming into a bee hive after we pulled one out over them last year. It just wasn't our night tonight."
South Alabama got out of the gates quickly taking a 20-10 lead just eight minutes into the game. USA extended their lead to 16 points (32-16) before the Tide eventually got some flow on offense. Alabama used a 9-2 run over the final five minutes of action to narrow the Jaguar advantage to just 37-27 at the half.
USA hit 7-of-17 three point attempts in the opening half to account for a large percentage of their points while the Tide struggled from the perimeter hitting just 38.7 percent from the floor and missing all five of their trey attempts.
Jamilah Johns scored several baskets at the start of the second half to help Bama trim the lead to just seven points, 44-37. However, South Alabama continued their hot shooting hitting three treys in a 15-0 spurt that put them in front by 22 (59-37) with 11:48 remaining in the game.
Beth Vice dropped in a pair of three-pointers as Alabama kept battling and cut the USA margin to 66-53 with 6:00 left on the clock. The Tide could get no closer as both teams struggled to make shots in the harried pace of the closing minutes. The Jaguars were able to make some free throws at the end to earn the final margin of victory.
Johns led all scorers with 19 points and also grabbed a team-best 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the year. Vice added 12 points with Katie Sipe chipping in 10 for the Tide. USA was led by Taneisha Russell's double-double of 17 points with four three-pointers and 13 boards.
The Crimson Tide returns to action for their third game of the week, as they travel to Albuquerque, N.M., to face No. 24 BYU as part of the Triple Crown Sports Classic on Saturday afternoon at Noon (MT).
Alabama (7-2) 27-30—57
South Alabama (5-4) 37-42—79
