Tide Women's Basketball Falls at Virginia Tech, 72-59
12/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
 |
|
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Cold-shooting and turnovers hurt the Alabama women's basketball team on Saturday as they dropped their first game of the season 72-59 at Virginia Tech.
The Tide, now 4-1, shot just 31.8 percent from the floor for the game going 21 of 66. UA also committed 19 turnovers that resulted in 20 Hokie points. Virginia Tech improves to 3-2 on the year and extends its home opening win streak to 13 straight years.
The game started sluggishly with both teams struggling to score baskets. Alabama eventually made the first push taking a 19-15 lead after an 11-2 run midway through the frame. The two squads kept things close until the Hokies closed the half with a flurry outscoring the Tide 11-5 over the final four minutes to take a 34-27 lead into the break.
The Tide continued to be a force on the boards earning a 26-16 edge in rebounds in the opening half, but scored just one second chance bucket in the frame. Alabama was also hindered by 12 first half turnovers and a 18-6 deficit in free throw attempts.
"Game to game sometimes your shooting is off," said head coach Rick Moody. "I didn't think our team played with much emotion today. We were a step behind mentally and two steps physically and that bothers me. There is no excuse for that to happen, we just have to get tougher. We just could not find a spark from anybody today."
Virginia Tech extended their lead to double digits early in the second half and maintained a comfortable lead for much of the rest of the game. Alabama made a charge midway through the second period cutting the deficit to just three, 42-39, before an 11-2 run by the Hokies put the game away.
While not shooting the ball well, Alabama did get balanced offense with six players scoring eight points each and Katie Sipe leading the way with nine. It was the first time since a game with South Carolina on Feb. 9, 2003 that no Bama player finished in double digits.
Alabama also won the battle on the glass out-rebounding a much taller Hokie group 44-35. It was the fifth straight game that UA finished with 40 or more rebounds. The Tide got 17 offense boards but could only muster nine second chance points off that total. UA also forced 20 Tech miscues.
Virginia Tech had four players finish in double figures with Kerri Gardin's 15 leading the way.
The Crimson Tide has a short break before returning to the court against in-state rival UAB on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in Coleman Coliseum.
