Tide Women Advance in WNIT With Win at Eastern Kentucky
5/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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RICHMOND, Ky. – The University of Alabama women’s basketball squad overcame another slow start to earn an impressive 99-77 victory at Eastern Kentucky on Sunday afternoon sending the Tide into the quarterfinals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.
Alabama, who improved to 19-11 on the year, continued its winning ways in the 2002 postseason breaking open a one-point halfime lead with a 53-point second half explosion. With the victory, the Tide advances to a WNIT quarterfinal meeting with Michigan State.
“We are excited to win and advance,” said UA head coach Rick Moody who improved to 18-10 in postseason action. “This tournament has given us a lot of experience and a chance to get some more things done as a team. I was proud of the attitude we showed coming back. We were down early but kept our composure and that is gratifying to me.”
Eastern Kentucky scored the first seven points of the game and held a 14-point (24-10) lead with 13:27 left in the first half. Alabama refused to quit and chipped away at the EKU lead over the next several minutes.
The Tide’s determination paid off as Bama earned its first lead of the game 33-32 on a layup by Shun Hunter at the 5:11 mark. EKU answered with back-to-back treys but UA kept fighting. A three-pointer by Manisha Redus knotted the score before the teams traded baskets and then Katie Sipe layed a ball in at the buzzer to give the Tide a 46-45 advantage.
EKU tried to keep it close to start the second half but the Tide’s depth and athleticism began to wear down the Lady Colonels. Alabama used a 16-4 spurt to open up and double-digit margin and never looked back eventually pushing their lead to over 20 points.
Shondra Johnson scored 20 points to lead four Alabama players in double
figures followed by LaNisha Cartwell with 18. Beth Vice finished with 13 and
Katie Sipe pitched in 12 in the victory. Bama improved to 10-0 this year when four players reach double digits and the Tide’s 99 points was the program’s highest postseason output since scoring 121 points in a four overtime game versus Duke during the 1995 NCAA tournament.
The Crimson Tide outdueled EKU on the glass, 43-38, behind seven boards
each from Johnson and Monique Bivins. Alabama also handed out a season high 20 assists in the contest. EKU’s Charlotte Sizemore scored 16 points to lead
a quartet of Lady Colonels with 10 or more.
Alabama continues its postseason road trip travelling from Kentucky to East Lansing, Mich., for a Tuesday meeting with Michigan State. The game will tip at 7 p.m. at the Breslin Center on MSU campus.
