Alabama
11-11, 3-6SEC
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Mississippi State
21-1, 9-0SEC
Alabama’s Battle Falls Short Against No. 6 Mississippi State, 65-49
2/3/2019 3:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Junior Cierra Johnson totaled 15 points in the loss
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama women's basketball team fell to No. 6 Mississippi State, 65-49, on Sunday afternoon inside Coleman Coliseum. The Bulldogs improve to 21-1 overall and 9-0 in SEC play with the win, while the Crimson Tide drops to 11-11 overall and 3-6 in SEC competition.
"I thought the layup to start the game and the four missed lay ups to start the second half really put us at a disadvantage," head coach Kristy Curry said. "When you're playing a team of this caliber you just have a very small margin for error. I think we just have to be tough enough to finish those and to rebound the ball the way we did today. You just have to make those easy baskets to start halves."
Alabama was led by junior Cierra Johnson's 15 points. Senior Shaquera Wade added 12 points, as well as tallying four rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Ariyah Copeland pitched in nine points and nine rebounds, coming up just short of another double-double.
The contest was tight-knit early, as Mississippi State held a 9-7 lead at the game's first media timeout. The Bulldogs would finish the quarter on a 12-6 spurt and would hold a 21-13 advantage after the first.
Both squads would exchange baskets in the second period, as the Bulldogs extended their lead to 39-27 at the half.
The MSU defense clamped down in the third quarter as the Bulldogs would build a 54-34 lead entering the final 10 minutes of action.
The Crimson Tide was unable to significantly cut into the Bulldog's lead in the fourth as Mississippi State would claim the 65-49 victory.
The Tide will return to action on Thursday, Feb. 7 when it travels to Gainesville to take on Florida. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on SEC Network +.
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