Bama Women's Basketball Falls at South Carolina, 66-57
2/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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COLUMBIA, S.C. - Natasha Gamble scored 12 points and Monique Bivins added 11 but the Alabama Crimson Tide could not overcome a feisty South Carolina squad desperately needing a conference victory, falling 66-57 on Sunday afternoon at Columbia, S.C.
With the loss, the Tide's record stands at 13-12 overall and 4-8 in SEC play. The Gamecocks improve to 7-19 overall and pickup their first conference victory, now 1-11 on the season.
"I want to give South Carolina credit," Alabama Head Coach Rick Moody said. "They are a young talented team that just wanted to win it badly today. They did the things they needed to do to accomplish that."
Alabama shot nearly 38 percent from the field overall and just over 18 percent from behind the arc. The Gamecocks shot better than 45 percent from the floor, while knocking down better than a third of their three-point attempts.
The Tide trailed by five at the halftime break, after managing to trim down a double-digit South Carolina lead. Gamble paced the Tide with six points while Marverly Nettles added four points off the bench in the first half.
Alabama remained within striking distance early in the second half, but a strong performance by Carolina's Stacy Booker, who scored 19 points, pulled down nine rebounds and collected three steals, sealed the Tide's fate late.
Alabama travels to Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, Feb. 24 to face the Vanderbilt Commodores. That game will tip off at 7 p.m. Alabama's final home game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 27. The Tide's "Senior Day" festivities will conclude with at 2 p.m. tip against Pat Summit and the Tennessee Lady Vols.
