Alabama
11-10, 3-5
Georgia
12-8, 3-4
Alabama Picks Up First Win in Athens Since 1997 with 58-53 Triumph Over Georgia
1/27/2019 5:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Crimson Tide earned its first SEC road victory of the season
ATHENS, Ga. – For only the fourth time in program history and the first time since 1997, the Alabama women's basketball team defeated Georgia in Athens, 58-53 on Sunday afternoon in Stegeman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide (11-10, 3-5 SEC) victory snapped a 12-game road losing streak to the Lady Bulldogs (13-8, 3-4 SEC).
"It was a really gutsy win today in a tough environment," said head coach Kristy Curry. "I'm really proud of our kids today, their character was amazing. Today was a great confidence-builder for our team."
Alabama was led by junior Cierra Johnson who had 14 of her game-high 18 points in the second half. Johnson also notched career highs in rebounds with eight and in steals with seven. Freshman De'Sha Benjamin totaled double-digit points for the second consecutive game, adding 11 points and six rebounds off the bench. Sophomore Jasmine Walker also chipped in nine points in the win.
The two sides began the game with a back-and-forth battle and Georgia led 12-9 after the first 10 minutes. Alabama found its offense in the second quarter, knocking down six of its first seven shots of the frame to take the 23-19 advantage with 6:42 to go before the half. The Crimson Tide extended its lead to 30-19 with 2:28 on the clock after junior Ashley Knight converted on a layup. UA held the 30-21 edge at the halftime break.
Both teams traded buckets in the third quarter, with Johnson scoring eight points in the frame to give Alabama the 44-35 lead going to the fourth and final quarter.
In the fourth, UA pushed the score to 50-37 with 6:16 to go after senior Shaquera Wade completed the old-fashioned three-point play. Georgia responded with a 10-0 spurt to cut the deficit to 50-47, before Benjamin knocked down a crucial mid-range jumper to put the Tide up by five with 3:39 left in the game. Johnson followed up 39 seconds later with a dagger three-pointer as the shot clock buzzer sounded to push the lead to eight.
The Lady Bulldogs bounced back with a 6-0 run to trim the Alabama lead to 55-53 with 45 seconds to go. With time winding down, Wade pulled down an offensive rebound and gave the ball up to Johnson who was fouled with 12.5 seconds on the clock. Johnson hit 1of-2 from the line to make it 56-53. After Georgia called a timeout, the Lady Bulldogs missed a three-pointer as the Tide hit two more free throws to seal the win.
The Tide never trailed in the second half and held the Lady Bulldogs to just 29 percent (18-of-62) shooting for the game, while shooting 42 percent (24-of-57) from the field. Alabama also outrebounded Georgia, 43-39.
The Tide will return to action for another SEC matchup against No. 7 Mississippi State on Sunday, Feb. 3 at 12 p.m. CT in Coleman Coliseum. The game will be aired live on the SEC Network.
For all the latest information on the team, follow AlabamaWBB on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. General athletic news can be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
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