Jan. 3, 2009

Final Stats

HAMMOND, La. - Back-to-back three pointers with just over two minutes left in the game lifted the Alabama women's basketball team over Southeastern Louisiana 59-48 Saturday afternoon at the University Center. The win marks the Crimson Tide's sixth consecutive victory upping its season standing to 12-3. The Lady Lions drop to 7-5 overall having just lost their first contest at home this season.

"This was an important game for us to win," said head coach Wendell Hudson. "It was a tough basketball game and a tough environment to play in. This was another one of those games where we told the players they had to bring out a lot of energy. They really stepped up tonight and got a great win."

Freshman Ericka Russell topped all Alabama scorers with 14 points while sophomore Alyson Butler followed closely behind with 12. Juniors Dedrea Magee, Courtney Strauthers and sophomore Tierney Jenkins each pulled down seven rebounds.

"Ericka is making plays for us and certainly not playing like she is a freshman," added Hudson. "She won't shy away from the big shot which is a plus for us."

Southeastern Louisiana's Kristy Carlin hit a jumper less than 15 seconds into the game to get the Lady Lions on the board first, but that was the only time during the half that Alabama would find itself behind. Sophomore Varisia Raffington sparked a 14-4 run for the Tide putting Alabama up 14-6 with 9:37 remaining in the first half. Southeastern Louisiana would cut its deficit to one at the 6:20 mark off a pair of free throws setting the score at 16-15. The Tide put together another scoring spurt ending the half on a 14-6 run to go into the break up 30-22.

The Lady Lions opened the second frame with a three-pointer from junior Quantae Thomas followed by a jumper by senior Bethany Sinclair to come within three of the Alabama lead at 30-27. The Tide scored the next nine points of the game to take its largest advantage of the contest at 12 points. Southeastern Louisiana made another attempt at coming back and steadily chipped away at the Alabama lead before pulling out in front with 6:56 on the clock off a three-pointer from junior Kim Edmonson. Russell ignited the Tide after she committed a steal, made the layup and buried a shot from beyond the arc in under one minute putting Alabama back on top by four. The Lady Lions hit three free throws to cut the lead to one with 4:01 remaining in regulation, but the Tide's three-point duo of Butler and Russell hit back-to-back treys to give Alabama a comfortable buffer down the stretch. The Tide would end the game 4-4 from the free-throw line after Southeastern Louisiana began fouling at the 0:23 mark.

Alabama shot 36.1 percent from the field and held the Lady Lions to 32.0 percent of its attempts. Both teams shot well from the free-throw line with the Tide edging Southeastern Louisiana 83.3 percent to 80.0 percent. Alabama won the battle of the boards yet again out-rebounding the Lady Lions 46-30.

The Tide returns to the hardwood Thursday, Jan. 8 when it opens Southeastern Conference play at home against No. 19/20 Vanderbilt. Tipoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. (CST).