Tide Women Fall at Kentucky in SEC Opener, 59-55
1/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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LEXINGTON, Ky. - The University of Alabama women's basketball team struggled offensively for much of the day as Kentucky handed the Tide a 59-55 defeat in the Southeastern Conference opener on Sunday.
The loss was Alabama's second straight and dropped the Tide to 10-4 overall and 0-1 in the SEC. Kentucky improved to 8-5 overall and 1-0 in league play.
For UA it marked the sixth year in a row that Bama has dropped their SEC opener and the second straight year it has come at the hands of Kentucky.
Alabama finished the game shooting just 34.5 percent (19 of 55) from the floor for the day and made just 11 of 21 free throw attempts (52.4 percent).
Kentucky wasn't much stronger shooting just 37 percent from the field but the Wildcats made key shots at key times.
"It is disappointing to me that we executed so well but just couldn't seem to score," said UA head coach Rick Moody. "We had some great looks but just could not finish a play. I have to give Kentucky credit, especially in the second half, for making the plays they needed to make in order to win the game."
After Kentucky jumped out to the early 6-0, Alabama used a 16-3 run over the next eight minutes to take a 16-9 advantage. During the run, Bama's defense held the Wildcats scoreless for over five minutes.
The Tide opened up their largest margin of the first half, 26-18, with a basket by Beth Vice with 2:44 remaining. However, the Tide would not score again and UK trimmed to lead to just two points (26-24) at the half.
Both teams struggled from the floor as UA shot just 25.8 percent (8 of 31) and Kentucky was held to only 28.6 percent (8 of 28). Each team also committed eight turnovers in the opening stanza.
Alabama maintained their lead at the start of the second half but back-to-back treys by lone Kentucky senior Rita Adams knotted the score at 36 with 14:06 left in the game. Adams gave the Cats their first lead, 43-40, since early in the game with a third three-pointer at 8:44 mark.
Manisha Redus completed a three-point play of her own with a free throw to tie the score but it was Adams again draining a long range jumper to push UK back in front and spark a 7-0 run that put the Wildcats up 50-43 with five minutes left to play.
The Tide continued to battle scoring five points in the final 15 seconds but late Kentucky free throws proved the necessary cushion for the SEC opening win.
Monique Bivins led the Tide with 15 points including a trio of three-pointers. Manisha Redus scored 13 points as the only other Bama player in double figures. Adams led Kentucky with 16 points followed by SeSe Helm with 14 and Sara Potts with 10. Helm also pulled down 10 boards to help the Cats to a 41-37 edge in rebounding.
The Crimson Tide return home for the first time in a month to begin the home portion of their SEC slate on Thursday night when No. 5 Tennessee visits Coleman Coliseum at 7:00 p.m.
Alabama (10-4, 0-1) 26-29-55
Kentucky (8-5, 1-0) 24-35-59
