Tide Women's Basketball Suffers First Loss to East Carolina
12/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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GREENVILLE, N.C. - The University of Alabama women's basketball team suffered their first loss of the season, 81-72, at the hands of a hot-shooting and determined East Carolina squad in the championship game of the U.S. Cellular Invitational on Sunday afternoon.
The Tide (6-1) battled all day and even held a slight lead late in the game but the Lady Pirates (3-4) hit some crucial baskets down the stretch to capture their own tournament crown and hand Bama its first blemish of the season. ECU became the first team all season to score over 70 points versus the Tide, shooting 56.6 percent (30 of 53) from the field.
"We just didn't do a very good job defensively today," said UA head coach Rick Moody. "We couldn't find a way to stop them and we didn't make them work for their baskets. After playing such a good game and exerting so much mental and physical energy on Saturday it is always tough to turn around and do it again the next day, but that is something this team has to be able to do. Give East Carolina a lot of credit, they made plays."
ECU got off to a quick start scoring the first five points of the game while Alabama struggled to get an offensive flow. The Tide eventually fought back to tie the score at 19, but East Carolina answered with the next six points and held a lead for the rest of the half. UA was able to trim the Lady Pirate lead to just three points, 39-36, at halftime.
The Lady Pirates continued their strong shooting to open the second half extending their lead to eight points just five minutes into the action. Alabama finally began to find its touch outscoring ECU 14-2 over the next five minutes to take a 56-52 advantage with 10:44 left on the clock. Manisha Redus sparked the UA spurt with a pair of baskets and several key assists including setting up back-to-back treys by Monique Bivins.
For the next eight minutes the game stayed close with neither team holding more than a three-point margin. Jamilah Johns dropped in a layup at the 2:27 mark giving the Tide a 69-67 lead. On ECU's next possession Alabama appeared ready to force a turnover by East Carolina but tourney MVP Jennifer Jackson connected on a shot clock buzzer-beating three-pointer as she fell out of bounds on the left side to take the lead back from the Tide.
Following a turnover by Bama, ECU senior Tali Robich knocked down her only three-pointer in six tries on the day with 1:08 left to put the Lady Pirates up by four. The Crimson Tide failed to make a needed shot and East Carolina made six straight free throws down the stretch to ice the game and earn the victory.
All-Tournament selection Katie Sipe finished the game as the Tide's top scorer with 17 points including five treys. Johns posted her third double-double of the year with 11 points and 11 rebounds while Beth Vice added 12 points in the losing cause. Sophomore Monique Bivins made a trio of three-pointers en route to her first career all-tournament honor. Redus registered a career high by handing out 12 assists in 39 minutes of action.
Jackson led all scorers with a career high 30 points, hitting 12 of 16 from the field including 4 of 5 from behind the arc. Three other ECU players also reached double digits. The Lady Pirates won the battle on the glass out-rebounding the Tide, 34-29.
The Crimson Tide will take the week off from competition as the players will take time to focus on their semester exams. Alabama returns to action on Monday, Dec. 16, when the Tide welcomes Illinois-Chicago to Coleman Coliseum at 7 p.m.
Alabama (6-1) 36-36—72
East Carolina (3-4) 39-42—81
