Alabama
15-7, 3-6SEC
Auburn University
15-7, 5-3SEC
Alabama Women’s Basketball Drops 66-55 Decision to Auburn
1/29/2017 8:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Crimson Tide led for majority of the game but was outscored 25-11 in the fourth
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama led after three quarters but was outscored 25-11 in the fourth to fall, 66-55, to Auburn in women's basketball action Sunday evening in Coleman Coliseum. With the loss, the Crimson Tide moves to 15-7 overall and 3-6 in Southeastern Conference play, while the win brings the Tigers to the same 15-7 mark on the season and 5-3 against league opponents.
"We can't just win three quarters, and obviously it's how you finish," said Alabama head coach Kristy Curry. "We just weren't able to put four quarters together. I thought we played three really solid quarters, but we just couldn't finish it off. We had eight fourth quarter turnovers with the inability to get to the free throw line. We weren't as aggressive as we needed to be taking care of the basketball, making shots and getting to the foul line and converting."
Juniors Quanetria Bolton and Hannah Cook led Alabama in scoring with 17 points and 16 points, respectively. Bolton and sophomore Shaquera Wade each finished with a game-high seven rebound, while Wade dished out a game-best four assists. Auburn was led by sophomore Janiah McKay, who had 26 points, while senior Katie Frerking chipped in 20.
The Tigers scored five unanswered to start the game before a three from Cook got the Tide on the board at the 8:19 mark. Auburn remained on top until Alabama strung together a 10-4 run late in the quarter to take the 15-14 edge. The Tide would hold its one-point lead at the end of the first, 17-16.
Auburn scored four of the first six points of the second to take the lead back, but it wouldn't last long as a pair of free throws from Bolton on the next possession put the Tide in front. Alabama would lead by as many as four in the quarter and held a one-point lead at the half, 28-27.
The Tide went on a 9-2 run to open the third, which extended its lead out to eight. The Tigers then countered with a 10-3 run to make it a one-point game. Junior Ashley Williams would knock down a jumper just before the end of the quarter to set the score at 44-41.
Frerking hit back-to-back threes for Auburn to give the Tigers the lead with 8:39 remaining. From there, Auburn would outscore Alabama 10-2 over the next four minutes to extend its lead out to 11. The Tide came within eight with 3:10 to go but would come no closer for the duration.
For the game, Alabama shot 44.7 percent (21-47), while Auburn finished at 46.4 percent (26-56) from the floor. The Tide outrebounded the Tigers, 33-28, and had five blocks compared to one for Auburn. Alabama had 22 turnovers in the game and was only able to get to the free throw line 11 times.
The Tide will have its lone bye on Thursday before hitting the road for a matchup with LSU on Sunday. The game is slated for a 3 p.m. CT start on the SEC Network.
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