Women?s Basketball Falls in SEC Tournament, 78-49
3/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DULUTH, Ga.??The Alabama women’s basketball team kept Thursday’s opening-round game in the SEC women’s basketball tournament close for the first 12 minutes but withered under Ole Miss’ defensive pressure, turning the ball over a record 42 times and falling to the Rebels, 78-49.
The loss eliminates the Crimson Tide (10-20, 0-15) from the tournament and ends Alabama’s season.
“This has obviously been a very disappointing year for the University of Alabama,” Alabama head coach Stephany Smith said. “The thing that has been our Achilles Heel all season came back and bit us again tonight. There were some opportunities against the Ole Miss press but we didn’t take advantage as much as we could have.”
Ole Miss came into Thursday’s game leading the SEC in turnover ratio, but turned the ball over 28 times in the win, for 70 combined turnovers between the teams. Alabama’s 42 turnovers were a season high and the second time this season the Tide has turned the ball over 40 times, with the first coming in Alabama’s first matchup against Ole Miss this season, Feb. 11 in Oxford, Miss.
The Tide struggled on the boards, allowing the Rebels to pull down 17 offensive rebounds and was just 2-of-13 from behind the 3-point line.
Alabama was led on offense by freshman Dedrea Magee, who contributed a career-high 15 points in the loss. It was the third time this season the Picayune, Miss. native scored double figures and the second time against her home state. Magee scored 11 against the Rebels, Feb. 11.
In their final games in an Alabama uniform, seniors Kate Mastin and Navonda Moore each added nine points for Alabama. Senior Harriet Barnes added five rebounds, as did freshman Tamara Williams.
Ole Miss (21-9, 10-5) was led by Armintie Price, who had 26 points, six rebounds and five assists.
