Alabama
7-0
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
University of Kansas
3-4
Alabama Women’s Basketball Finishes Strong to Outlast Kansas in Overtime, 71-65
12/4/2016 2:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Crimson Tide moves to 7-0 for the first time since the 2000-01 season
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Junior Hannah Cook drained a three-pointer at the end of regulation to tie the game, and Alabama went on to outscore Kansas by six in overtime to beat the Jayhawks, 71-65, in women's basketball action Sunday in Coleman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide is now 7-0 for the first time since the 2000-01 season, while the loss sets Kansas at 3-4.
"This was a good experience for us, one that was much needed," said Alabama head coach Kristy Curry. "We really had some things that we didn't do well there in the first half and got in some foul trouble. We came back out the second half and just kind of stayed the course. We didn't shoot the ball well and, on a day when you don't shoot the ball well, you just keep shooting it. We kept telling them we had a lot of confidence in them, and the free throws and threes we missed earlier in the game, I guess you can say we made them when they counted the most, so that's what's important."
Junior Quanetria Bolton led Alabama with 18 points and nine rebounds, while fellow juniors Meoshonti Knight and Cook added 17 points and 10 points, respectively. Freshman Ashley Knight provided 14 quality minutes, both offensively and defensively, finishing with seven points and six rebounds off the bench. Redshirt sophomore McKenzie Calvert led the Jayhawks in scoring with 15 points, while junior Chayla Cheadle recorded a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds.
There were four lead changes and two ties over the opening four minutes of the game before Alabama took over the lead for the duration of the quarter thanks to a 6-0 run. The Tide would lead 16-14 at the end of the first.
Alabama remained in front until the 3:48 mark in the second when a layup by sophomore Aisia Robertson gave the Jayhawks a 24-22 advantage. Kansas led by as many as four, but junior Coco Knight would score the final three points of the frame for Alabama, setting the score at 26-25 in favor of the Jayhawks at the half.
A layup by junior Ashley Williams on the opening possession of the third put the Tide back on top, but Kansas answered with a three-pointer at the other end. The quarter would continue to go back and forth with three ties and six lead changes. The Jayhawks scored five of the last seven points to take a one-point edge, 41-40, into the final period in regulation.
Kansas led for the majority of the fourth, and by as many as five, but Alabama remained poised down the stretch. With 10 seconds to go, and the Tide down by one, Meoshonti Knight fouled Calvert to stop the clock, so time would remain should Alabama get the ball back. Calvert hit both of her free throws, giving the Jayhawks a three-point edge. With three seconds to go, Cook stepped back and took the straight-on shot from beyond the arc that would tie the game at 56-56 and eventually send it into overtime.
In the bonus period, Kansas would hold onto the lead until the 3:13 mark when the Tide began its game-winning run. Alabama went on to score 13 of the final 18 points to close out the contest.
"I loved the poise," added Curry. "You could tell that our kids never believed that they wouldn't win, and I thought that their maturity down the stretch and some of the things we work on daily for special situations really paid off today."
For the game, Alabama shot 30.7 percent (23-75), while Kansas was 31.1 percent (23-74) from the floor. The Tide was outrebounded for the first time this season as the Jayhawks collected five more, 59-54.
Next up, Alabama plays its first road game of the season when it travels to Georgetown to face the Hoyas on Sunday, Dec. 11. Game time is set for 1 p.m. CT.
For all the latest information on the team, follow AlabamaWBB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can be found @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
