Alabama Women’s Basketball Pulls Away Late to Defeat Chattanooga
The Alabama women's basketball team earned a tough 61-52 win over the Chattanooga Mocs inside of Coleman Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
"Happy that our team found a way to win today, it was an ugly win, but those count. We can take a lot away from it," said Alabama head coach Kristy Curry. "Our effort defensively was not what it was on Wednesday... today wasn't there, we have to look at that and have a growth mindset."
Both teams saw success early on the offensive end, shooting the ball over 50% in the first quarter. The Mocs kept that high shooting clip in the second quarter while the Crimson Tide dropped to under 30% in the second quarter, but Alabama still led 27-25 at the break.
The third quarter was highly contested as neither squad built more than a one-possesion lead. Alabama entered the final frame with a 42-41 advantage.
Chattanooga made a free throw to open the fourth quarter, but the Crimson Tide went on a 6-0 run on three consecutive layups courtesy of Megan Abrams and Jada Rice, to go up 48-42 with seven minutes left.
JaMya-Mingo-Young made a jumper a few minutes later, but Chattanooga nailed two three-pointers to cut the deficit to two points with 3:28 left in the game.
With a four-point lead and less than a minute remaining, Alabama needed a bucket to increase the lead. Hannah Barber answered the call and sunk a huge three-pointer to put Alabama up 59-52 with 41 seconds left which seemingly put the game away.
Mingo-Young added two free throws in the final seconds to secure the 61-52 victory.
Three Alabama players reached double figures including Brittany Davis (14), Rice (12), and Mingo-Young (10).
Chattanooga was led in scoring by Yazz Wazeerud-Din with 21 points.
Up next, Alabama (6-2) travels to Hattiesburg, Miss. to face off against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2:00 p.m. CST.