Missouri Outlasts Tide at St. Mary?s Tournament Opener
11/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. ?? The University of Alabama women’s basketball team played some of its most inspired basketball of the young season, but was unable make enough plays down the stretch in a hard-fought 78-70 loss to the University of Missouri. The game was the Tide’s first of the St. Mary’s Tournament in Moraga, Calif., and marked the team’s second loss in as many tries away from its home floor.
“I told our team after the game that tonight was my proudest moment as head coach at the University of Alabama,” said head coach Stephany Smith. “Our team fought for 40 minutes and executed our game plan all night. We had a few lapses, but for the most part I thought we executed what we wanted to do and fought for every possession.”
Alabama got off to a great start, as the Tide backcourt repeatedly found open post players open underneath en route to an early 6-2 lead. Missouri, who came into the game sporting a 3-1 record on the season, fought right back though, behind the offensive efforts of Tiffany Brooks. Brooks scored 17 points in the first half, helping Mizzou build a 41-33 lead at the break.
The Tide stormed out of the locker room to open the second half, however, putting together a 9-0 run in the first five minutes of the period. Alabama held Missouri scoreless for the first 6:22 of the second frame, leading by as many as three in the opening minutes of the half.
Unfortunately for the Tide, the veteran Tigers found an answer to each Tide run. Missouri took advantage of Alabama’s offensive turnovers and some defensive lapses in the half-court that left Tiger shooters open on several occasions. Missouri shot 57.1 percent from the three-point arc in the first half and finished the game with a 47.1 percent effort from downtown. Alabama ended the night with 20 turnovers after 12 in the first half.
“I thought in the first half that we took some poor shots, especially in transition,” said Smith. “We had some miscommunication on defense that left some players wide open in the second half that hurt us, but I was still very proud of the way we played on both ends of the floor.”
The Tide didn’t go away easily, though. Down by five with six minutes to play, Alabama put together another second-half run to put the Tigers on their heels. Two baskets by Navonda Moore, a layup by Harriet Barnes, a three-pointer by Kate Mastin and a driving layup by Nikki Davis knotted the game at 67 each with just over three minutes remaining.
On the ensuing possession, however, Missouri’s Alyssa Hollins, who stung Alabama with four three-pointers and 18 points, came up big. The Tide defense left Hollins wide open in the corner, where she promptly buried a huge trey with just 1:46 left to play. Missouri made its foul shots and handled the Alabama press down the stretch to hang on to the win.
Mastin led the Tide with 16 points on the strength of three three-pointers. Moore, who had just two points in the first half, exploded for 13 in the final 20 minutes and finished with 15 points, a season-high eight rebounds and an assist.
A pair of true freshmen had some of their best games of their young careers. Davis, who continues to develop into the Tide’s floor general in just her fifth game of collegiate basketball, finished the game with 10 points, five rebounds and six assists. Classmate Courtney Strauthers tied her career high with eight points and added five rebounds and a pair of assists.
“Nikki and Courtney each grew up tremendously tonight,” said Smith. “I was very proud of the way they played. Each needs to continue to improve, but I am extremely pleased with their effort.”
Alabama, now 3-2 on the season, faces the loser of the St. Mary’s-Cal State Northridge contest on Friday, Nov. 25 at a time yet to be determined.
