South Dakota State Slips Past Tide Women's Basketball
1/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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TUSCALOOSA - South Dakota State overcame Marverly Nettles career-high 27 point effort and Alabama's dominance on the glass to edge the Crimson Tide, 86-83, in an exciting Wednesday night game at Coleman Coliseum.
Alabama's record drops to 9-4 with the loss, while the Jackrabbits improve to 12-4. SDSU has been impressive in its provisional year of Division I basketball play, knocking off the likes of Oklahoma State, Middle Tennessee, and Kentucky, all on the road. The loss is the first suffered by the Tide at Coleman Coliseum this year.
The Tide shot the ball well in the first half, hitting 15 of their 29 attempts from field for nearly 52 percent. In contrast, SDSU struggled to find their rhythm, connecting on just worse than 42 percent of their first period shot attempts. However, Alabama committed 11 first half turnovers, allowing the Jackrabbits to remain competitive throughout the opening period. At the halftime break, the Tide owned a three point advantage at 38-35.
The second half saw much of the same for the Crimson Tide, as the team continued to out-shoot SDSU from the field, foul line and from behind the arc. But turnovers continued to plague the Tide, as the women doubled their first half total to finish the night with 22. SDSU quickly erased the narrow Tide advantage at the break, taking the lead with just over 17 minutes remaining. Alabama threatened several times down the stretch, as Lauren Hill nailed two long-distance three point shots, but SDSU was successful enough at the charity stripe to preserve a victory.
"It was a great basketball game and I thought that both teams competed their hearts out," Alabama head coach Rick Moody said. "I looked at the stats sheet and wondered 'how did we lose?'
"I guess the bottom line is they made a couple of more big plays than we did."
Nettles' 27 points led all scorers. Four other players scored in double-figures including Lauren Hill with 13 points, Monique Bivins and Navonda Moore with 11 points each and Natasha Gamble with 10 points. Leading the Tide on the glass was Dee Merriweather, who pulled down nine boards, leading all players.
Megan Vogal led the Jackrabbits in scoring, contributing 22 points on 5 of 16 shooting from the field. Vogal also pulled down seven boards to lead SDSU on the glass. Shannon Schlagel scored 19 points on six of 13 shooting from the field and three of six from behind the arc.
Next up for the Crimson Tide is the conference opener against the Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday, Jan. 9. The game is scheduled to tip off at 2 p.m. at Coleman Coliseum.
PHOTO GALLERY
Lauren Hill defends her opponent in the lane.
(Photo by Dusty Compton)
Chanel Johnson fights for position under the basket.
(Photo by Dusty Compton)
Krystle Johnson grabs a rebound in traffic.
(Photo by Dusty Compton)
Dee Merriweather watches a shot underneath the basket.
(Photo by Dusty Compton)
A fan expresses his feelings about the Tide's Lauren Hill.
(Photo by Michelle Lepianka)
Chanel Johnson looks to pass the ball inside.
(Photo by Michelle Lepianka)
Kate Mastin drives into the lane.
(Photo by Michelle Lepianka)
Marverly Nettles shoots for some of her career-high 27 points.
(Photo by Michelle Lepianka)
