Alabama
14-5, 2-4SEC
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Mississippi State University
20-0, 6-0SEC
Alabama Women’s Basketball Falls to No. 4/4 Mississippi State, 67-54
1/19/2017 10:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Hannah Cook scores game-high 16 points, while Ashley Williams pulls down game-best 10 rebounds
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama outscored Mississippi State, 21-9, in the fourth quarter, but the fourth-ranked Bulldogs topped the Crimson Tide in the other three periods to win 67-54 in women's basketball action on Thursday night in Coleman Coliseum. The loss brings Alabama to 14-5 overall and 2-4 in Southeastern Conference play, while the win moves Mississippi State to 20-0 on the season and 6-0 against league opponents.
"I think on a night like tonight the worst thing to do as a coach is anything other than crediting Mississippi State's defense," said Alabama head coach Kristy Curry. "I was a little disappointed in our posts. We had 16 post turnovers and 13 on the perimeter. We have got to do a better job with our posts. At the end of the day, I thought they (Mississippi State) did what they do, and they did it well. Hats off to those guys tonight. We move forward, and they move forward. This game counts like all the rest."
Junior Hannah Cook led the game offensively with 16 points, while fellow junior Ashley Williams pulled down a game-best 10 rebounds. Freshman Jordan Lewis chipped in 10 points, two assists, two steals and a rebound, while junior Coco Knight had her top-scoring performance of the conference season with 10 points in addition to three rebounds and an assist. With two blocks in the game, freshman Ashley Knight moved into a tie with Leslie Payne (1980-81) for the No. 6 spot on the Tide's single-season block list at 48.
The Bulldogs were led by senior Chinwe Okorie, who had 15 points, eight rebounds and one block.
Cook knocked down a three to get Alabama on the board first, but Mississippi State would go on a 14-1 run from there over the next four minutes. A layup by sophomore Shaquera Wade then sparked a 9-4 run for the Tide to end the quarter, making it a five-point game at 18-13 in favor of the Bulldogs.
The two teams traded baskets for the majority of the second, but Mississippi State would narrowly edge out Alabama in the scoring column for the quarter, 14-11, to take a 32-24 advantage into the locker room at the half.
The Bulldogs outscored the Tide 16-2 over the first five minutes of the third to pull in front by 22, 48-26. Mississippi State would end up with 26 of the quarter's 35 points to lead 58-33 with 10 minutes remaining.
Alabama went on to score 21 of the final 30 points of the contest to cut a 25-point lead down to 13 at the buzzer.
For the game, the Tide shot 41.7 percent (20-48), while the Bulldogs made 43.5 percent (27-62) of their attempts. The team's tied in rebounds with 35 apiece, however Mississippi State forced 29 Alabama turnovers and scored 28 points off those miscues.
Next up, the Tide hits the road for the first time in two weeks when it heads to Oxford to take on the Ole Miss Rebels on Sunday, Jan. 22. Tip is set for 2 p.m. CT on SEC Network +.
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