Alabama
14-3, 2-2SEC
University of Kentucky
11-6, 2-2SEC
Alabama Women’s Basketball Topped by Kentucky, 71-54
1/12/2017 9:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Crimson Tide loses first home game of the season after winning its first 11
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama women's basketball team lost its first home game of the 2016-17 season on Thursday, falling 71-54 to Kentucky at Coleman Coliseum. With the loss, the Crimson Tide stands at 14-3 overall and 2-2 in Southeastern Conference play, while the win improves the Wildcats' record to 11-6 on the season and 2-2 against league opponents.
"I thought that Kentucky really responded from their last game where things didn't really go their way," said Alabama head coach Kristy Curry. "They responded. We didn't respond. We have to learn how to handle success. We have to understand that this is a league of consistency. I told our coaches I was so pleased with how energetic and how much effort and how much work and preparation (we put in), but we've got to have a team that learns how to follow at a different level."
Sophomore Shaquera Wade scored a career-high 24 points, hitting 11 of her 13 attempts from the floor. She was also 2-for-2 from the free throw line while picking up six rebounds, two assists and one steal. Kentucky was led by senior Evelyn Akhator, who finished with 29 points, 15 rebounds and three assists.
The two teams traded baskets in the beginning before a 10-3 run for Kentucky gave the Wildcats a 14-7 lead with 2:51 to go in the first. Kentucky led 16-9 at the end of the quarter after shooting 60 percent over the opening 10:00.
The Wildcats scored four straight points to start the second, giving Kentucky its first double-digit lead of the contest at 19-9. UK went on to lead by as many as 11, but six unanswered by Alabama cut it to five with 4:45 to go. The Wildcats pushed it back out to seven at the 1:31 mark before the Tide got back-to-back layups from Wade over the final 90 seconds to make it a three-point game, 27-24, at the half.
The third started out much like the first with the two teams trading baskets, however a 6-0 run for Kentucky pushed it back out to double digits with 5:21 to go in the period. Alabama responded with six unanswered, but an 8-2 run for the Wildcats down the stretch made it an eight-point game, 49-41, at the end of the period.
Kentucky junior Makenzie Cann knocked down a three on the Wildcats' opening possession of the fourth, giving UK a double-digit advantage, which it would hold for the duration of the contest.
The Tide shot 37.5 percent (21-56) for the game, while the Wildcats hit 48.2 percent (27-56) of their attempts. Alabama was outrebounded for only the third time this season as Kentucky won the battle of the boards, 37-33.
"I thought that (Makayla) Epps and (Evelyn) Akhator showed great leadership and great energy," added Curry. "Akhator had 29 (points) and 15 (rebounds), and Ashley Williams, NeNe Bolton and Ashley Knight had 12 points and nine rebounds combined, so that's an energy thing with our posts, and then our starters (minus Wade) were 6-for-32 and shot 18 percent, so that's an energy and effort thing. We got outrebounded, and they made more free throws than we shot. That's another energy category, so I'm really disappointed tonight in our energy and our effort and our ability to understand that all that matters is the next game."
The Tide remains at home for its next two contests, beginning with Sunday's matchup with Arkansas. Tip is set for 4 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
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