Alabama Women’s Basketball Suffers First Loss of Season at USF

The Alabama women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season on Wednesday night, falling to South Florida 67-59 in Tampa, Fla.

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Offensively, the Crimson Tide struggled at times, shooting its lowest field-goal percentage (36.4) and three-point field-goal percentage (37.5) of the season.

Alabama's leading scorer Brittany Davis could not find her shot against USF. Davis came into the game averaging 25 points in the first two contests. The Manchester, Ga. native only recorded five points in Wednesday night's matchup.

The Bulls got off to a strong start, building a 10-2 lead early. Alabama's JaMya Mingo-Young came off the bench for the first time this season and immediately provided an impact, firing off back-to-back three-pointers to put the Tide within two. Both teams traded jumpers, giving USF a 12-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Bulls hit a three-pointer to start the second quarter, but the momentum would swing in favor of the Crimson Tide. Hannah Barber scored seven of Alabama's next ten points to put the Tide up 20-17.

Mingo-Young and Megan Abrams added three-pointers later in the half to keep Alabama in front. The Crimson Tide took a 29-23 lead at the break.

Alabama earned its largest lead of the game with 7:04 left in the third quarter, after Sarah Ashlee Barker earned an old-fashioned three-point play.

This lead quickly went away as the Bulls went on a 12-0 run, holding Alabama scoreless for nearly five minutes. USF led 42-36 with 2:30 left in the third quarter. The Bulls ultimately took a 44-38 lead into the final frame.

Both teams traded baskets for the majority of the fourth quarter, with USF holding a two or three possession lead most of the way. The Bulls began to pull away late, going up 62-49 with 1:39 left in the fourth quarter. Two Loyal McQueen free-throws, a Mingo-Young layup and free-throw, and a Jada Rice layup would cut the deficit in half, 62-56, with 44 seconds left in the game.

Aaliyah Nye would hit a three-pointer for the Tide in the final seconds, but crucial free-throws for USF would secure the 67-59 victory.

Three Alabama players reached double figures including Mingo-Young (14), Barber (11), and Nye (10).

USF's Sammie Puisis and Elena Tsineke led the way with 26 and 22, respectively.

Up next, Alabama travels to travels to Nassau, Bahamas for the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championships. Alabama faces off against No. 25 Utah on Monday, Nov. 21 at 1:30 p.m. CST and Wake Forest on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. CST.