Bama Women's Basketball Falls at SEC Tournament
3/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - University of Alabama juniors Katie Sipe and Natasha Gamble scored over half the Tide's points in a disappointing 63-56 loss to Ole Miss in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Thursday afternoon.
Sipe scored a near season high 19 points and pulled down a career best five rebounds while Gamble finished with 18 points on 8 of 15 shooting from the floor.
However, several other Tide players had difficulties from the field as UA's season long struggle to shoot the ball consistently reared its ugly head once again. The Crimson Tide (12-16) shot just 31.4 percent from the floor for the game including a season low 15.2 percent (5-33) from the three-point line.
Alabama wasn't the only tight shooting squad as the Lady Rebels weren't much better finishing at 30.8 percent for the game from the floor and 31.8 percent (7-22) from treyland.
"Both teams started the game real tight," said UA head coach Rick Moody. "We had some great open looks that just wouldn't go in the hole. I was proud of how our team fought back in the second half, but I have to give Ole Miss credit for making the plays they needed to make to win the game."
Things were close in the first half as both team struggled to find a flow on offense, but Ole Miss grabbed the first real advantage midway through the period. Alabama went scoreless for over a five minute stretch as Ole Miss opened up a double-digit lead, 31-17, with three minutes left in the half. A late Tide surge trimmed the margin to single digits, 31-22, at the half.
The Crimson Tide got things rolling after the break using a 12-2 run over the opening six minutes to gain their first and only lead of the game 34-33. Sipe and Gamble teamed together to score all the Bama points in the spurt.
The game stayed close for much next 10 minutes of action as Ole Miss maintained a slight edge. UA closed to within one point, 51-50, at the 4:40 mark but could get no closer as the Lady Rebels hit shots and made free throws down the stretch to hold on to their lead and earn the victory.
Despite poor shooting, Alabama did win the battle of the boards 52-50 led by eight rebounds each from Monique Bivins and Dee Merriweather. Freshman Kate Mastin finished with nine points and handed out three assists. Senior Manisha Redus dished out a team leading five assists in her final collegiate game pushing her career total to 300 assists.
Carletta Brown scored 16 points to lead a trio of Lady Rebels in double figures while Tywanna Inmon (13) and Amber Watts (12) both hauled down double digit rebounds for UM.
