Tide Women's Basketball Falls to #24 Georgia
1/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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» Box Score
By Chris Woodfin
TUSCALOOSA - The University of Alabama women's basketball team (10-7, 0-4) was unable to overcome cold shooting and a stingy Georgia defense Thursday night, falling to the No. 24 ranked Lady Dogs 77-47 (13-4, 4-0).
The loss drops the Tide to 0-4 in the SEC for the first time since the 1988-89 season and extends the squad's current losing streak to five games. The Lady Bulldogs have now won seven straight games with the victory.
Alabama played Georgia close over the first eight minutes of the game leading UGA, 13-12, with 13:48 left in the half. However, Mary Beth Lycett connected on three treys in a span of 1:52 to push the Lady Dogs back in front by nine.
Georgia held the Alabama shooters in check the rest of the half limiting Bama to a just 20 halftime points. The Tide defense was almost as solid holding the Lady Dogs to just 33 percent shooting in the period.
Alabama's shooting woes continued in the second half as Georgia heated up connecting at a 52 percent pace in the deciding half. The Crimson Tide fell behind by 20 early in the second stanza but used an 11-2 run to cut the UGA lead to just 11 points, 43-32, on a three-pointer by Monique Bivins with 15:27 left in the game.
"I was proud of the way we battled them in the second half," said UA head coach Rick Moody. "We did a great job trimming their lead but after that we just couldn't find a way to finish a play. They are a very talented team and in my opinion they have Final Four material. Georgia is playing about as good as anybody in the country right now."
The Tide could get no closer as turnovers and missed shots mounted up and Georgia eventually extended their lead to a comfortable margin.
Bivins led the way for Alabama, scoring 12 points from the field including three three-pointers. Jamilah Johns dropped in nine points from the field and defensively set a career high with four blocked shots. Beth Vice led the Tide with seven rebounds, but a much taller UGA lineup won the battle on the glass out-rebounding UA, 53-29, for the game.
Georgia was led by the trio of Alexis Kendrick., Kara Braxton and Lycett. Kendrick, a true freshman, scored a game high 20 points and dished out seven assists while committing no turnovers. Braxton followed with 18 points and Lycett's added 14 in the win.
The Crimson Tide next hits the road for a pair of road games as Alabama visits Ole Miss on Sunday (2 p.m.) before travelling to play at No. 14 Mississippi State next Thursday. Bama's next home game is Feb. 2 versus No. 8 Arkansas at 2 p.m.
Alabama (10-7, 0-4) 20-27-47
Georgia (13-4, 4-0) 36-41-77
