Alabama
10-8, 2-3SEC
Tennessee
12-5, 1-4SEC
Alabama Downs No. 20 Tennessee, 86-65, Extends Winning Streak Over Lady Vols to Five Games
1/17/2019 11:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The 21-point win was the largest for the Crimson Tide against the Lady Vols in program history
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A balanced scoring attack and a dominant fourth quarter were key as the Alabama women's basketball team routed No. 20 Tennessee, 86-65, for the program's fifth consecutive victory over the Lady Vols (12-5, 1-4 SEC). The 21-point win is the largest for the Crimson Tide (10-8, 2-3 SEC) over UT in the two program's history.
The 21-point win was also the largest margin of victory against a ranked opponent since Feb. 14, 1998 and the biggest margin ever for an unranked Alabama team against an Associated Press top-25 opponent. The Crimson Tide also became only the eighth program in history to win five or more consecutive games against the Lady Vols and the only Southeastern Conference team to complete that feat.
"With us, it was about getting back to work after the embarrassment on Sunday in College Station," head coach Kristy Curry stated. "It wasn't about who we played tonight, it was about who we needed to be. We went back to work on Tuesday and Wednesday and worked on Alabama getting better. We broke it down, we were persistent and we were positive with them. Tonight, I think we saw those results."
The Crimson Tide's offensive attack was balanced and potent, with five players scoring in double figures, including three players scoring at least 15 points. Junior Cierra Johnson led the Tide in scoring, notching 17 points and adding seven rebounds. Sophomore Ariyah Copeland came one rebound short of another double-double, scoring 16 points and grabbing nine boards.
The Tide received an all-around performance from senior Shaquera Wade, who scored 15 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists. Junior Jasmine Walker went for 14 points and nine rebounds, including cashing in on three shots from beyond-the-arc.
The Crimson Tide and Lady Vols went back and forth in the early minutes of the contest, as Alabama held a 9-8 lead at the game's first media timeout. The game remained tight throughout the remainder of the period and the Tide led 22-18 after the first.
Alabama grabbed a 28-22 lead with 6:33 left in the second quarter after a Walker knocked down a mid-range jumper. Both teams would trade baskets until the halftime buzzer and the Crimson Tide held a 36-34 lead after 20 minutes of action.
With 7:53 remaining in the third, Wade converted an old-fashioned three-point play to give Alabama a 43-36 lead. On the ensuing Tennessee possession, freshman Megan Abrams turned a steal into a layup to extend the Crimson Tide lead to 45-36 at the 7:43 mark of the third period. A late spurt by the Lady Vols cut the Alabama lead to 60-55 entering the final frame.
The Crimson Tide opened the fourth quarter with a 10-2 surge to increase its advantage to 70-57 with 7:25 remaining in the game. Alabama would continue to dominate the Lady Vols in the final frame, outscoring Tennessee 20-8 over the game's final seven minutes and holding the Lady Vols to just two field goals in their final eight attempts. Johnson's shot-clock beating three-pointer in the game's final minute was the exclamation point as Alabama came away with the 86-65 win.
UA's offense was relentless from tip-off until the final buzzer, including a 50-point outburst in the game's second half. The Crimson Tide shot 50 percent (34-of-68) from the floor and 44 percent (7-of-16) from three-point land. While the offense played a key role in the game, the Tide's defense was just as crucial.
Alabama held the Lady Vols to just 34 percent (27-of-80) shooting and 17 percent (4-of-23) from three. The Crimson Tide also had 16 assists to Tennessee's nine.
The Tide will return to action on Sunday, Jan. 20 when it takes on LSU in Coleman Coliseum for the annual "We Back Pat" game. Alabama will also celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the 1994 Final Four team. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on SEC Network.
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