Tide Women's Basketball Outlasts Liberty, 67-64
12/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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GREENVILLE, N.C. - The University of Alabama women's basketball team used a quick start and solid finish to remain undefeated on the season with a 67-64 win over Liberty in the opening round of the U.S. Cellular Invitational on Saturday.
With the victory, Alabama improved to 6-0 on the year and moved into the championship game of a tournament for the second straight weekend. Liberty fell to 3-2 losing their second straight contest.
The Tide led 11-2 just four minutes into the game and held a 17-point cushion (25-8) at the 6:03 mark of the opening frame as Bama's athleticism proved too much for the Flames in their man-to-man defense.
"We did a great job of attacking the basket in the first half," said UA head coach Rick Moody. "When they went to the zone, we didn't do a very good job of taking advantage of what they were giving us. I think it was the first time all year that somebody has actually zoned us."
Liberty refused to go away closing the Tide margin to just eight points, 29-21, with a 13-4 run to close the first half.
The much bigger Flame squad, that features six players 6-2 or taller, continued to pound the ball inside eventually trimming the UA lead to just 44-42 at 10:06 in the second period. The Tide scored the next three baskets to move back in front by 7, but Liberty answered with seven points of their own to knot the score at 50 with 6:58 remaining.
The two squads settled into a defensive battle over the next several minutes with neither team able to grab the momentum. With 4:03 left, Manisha Redus drained a three-pointer to put Bama up by one, 58-57. Shun Hunter made four consecutive free throws followed by a Vice trey at 1:57 to put Alabama up 65-59.
The Flames made a final charge pulling to within one with under a minute to play but LU's Katie Feenstra missed a pair of free throws with 22 ticks left and Beth Vice made a pair for UA 10 seconds later giving the Tide their final margin of victory. Hunter and Redus paired together to force a Flame turnover on Liberty's final possession.
Four the Tide's five starters finished in double figures led by Katie Sipe with 13 points. Monique Bivins scored 12 followed by Redus with 11 and Hunter 10. For the second straight game, UA finished with more assists (20) than turnovers (16).
The Tide shot 44.4 percent from the floor and made 11 three-pointers in the contest. Despite a distinct height disadvantage, the Tide only lost the rebounding battle by just two, 35-33. Liberty's Stephanie Walker led all scorers with 15 in the loss.
Alabama concludes action at the U.S. Cellular at 3:00 p.m. (ET) on Sunday. The Crimson Tide meets host East Carolina for the tournament title.
Alabama (6-0) 29-38—67
Liberty (3-2) 21-43—64
