Alabama
12-2,5-2SEC
Auburn
5-9,0-6SEC
Senior Trio Combines for 55 in Tide’s Women’s Basketball Victory over Auburn
1/24/2021 4:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Jordan Lewis records near triple-double in the win
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama women's basketball recorded its 12th win of the season on Sunday with a 67-55 decision over Auburn at Coleman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide is now 12-2 overall and 5-2 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Tigers dip to 5-9 on the season and 0-6 against league opponents.
Ariyah Copeland, Jordan Lewis and Jasmine Walker combined to score 55 of Alabama's 67 points to lead the way offensively. Walker finished as the team's leading rebounder with nine boards, while Lewis was just shy of a triple double with 19 points, a season-high eight rebounds and a season-best eight assists. Copeland, in addition to her 19 points, played solid defense against Auburn's All-SEC First Teamer in Unique Thompson, who was held under her scoring and rebounding averages.
Alabama began the game on an 11-0 run and led by as many as 12 in the first quarter. Late in the second, Auburn pulled within two, however the Tide responded by scoring the final seven point of the frame to lead by nine at the half, 31-22.
The Tigers threatened again in the third and early in the fourth to cut the Alabama lead to four, but a quick five-point swing in favor of the Tide would help start a run that would push it back to double digits for good.
Head Coach Kristy Curry Said
"First, I want to thank our fans for coming out. Awesome environment today. Incredible support. I just tell our team that this community has embraced us and attendance has grown. We just have to continue to come out with the effort and energy. We just want to thank them for their support.
"Secondly, today, we let Coach Joye-Lee McNelis [Southern Miss head coach] know that she's in our thoughts and prayers as she fights lung cancer. She's one of the greatest role models and hardest workers I've ever been around in women's basketball. We want her to know that we send our love, thoughts and prayers from our team and basketball family as she fights this horrible disease.
"I just want to say how proud I am of our team today. We had some adversity. They'd make a run, but we'd step up and show a lot of poise and toughness with our decision-making. I'm really proud of this young lady to my right [Jordan Lewis]. Just incredible effort and leadership, communication and near triple-double with eight rebounds, eight assists, only three turnovers and 19 points against one of the best teams in the country, defensively. Our trio [Lewis, Ariyah Copeland, Jasmine Walker] is really special. What a great trio they are. Ariyah got the ball inside and did a really good job finishing and getting some makes. Then, Jas had 12 in the second half, five rebounds and a got big offensive put-back. She just continued to make herself available when it was a little tough in the first half. It was just an outstanding team effort in so many ways. I'm really proud of everyone today. It's really hard in rivalry games and a lot of things can happen. I think it's just really special when you can get a win on a day like today with a great home crowd."
News and Notes
- Lewis and Walker have scored in double figures in all seven SEC contests this season.
- Lewis' eight rebounds and eight assists were season highs and each one shy of her career bests in both categories
- Walker had 12 of her 17 points in the second half, while Copeland added 10 of hers in the final 20:00.
- Lewis dished out five of her assists in the fourth quarter.
- As a team, Alabama shot 57.1 percent in the last 10:00, to bring its game average to 46.4 percent.
Next Up
- Alabama hits the road next week, with its first stop being Lexington, Ky. to face the 12th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats on Thursday in Rupp Arena.
- The game is set to tip at 5:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
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