Tide Rolls Over Savannah State, 102-48
12/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA ?? It didn’t take long for the University of Alabama women’s basketball team to ensure its home fans of the fifth straight home win in Coleman Coliseum, as the Tide jumped out early and never looked back in a 102-48 victory over Savannah State on Saturday afternoon. Alabama moved to 6-2 in 2006-07, including a perfect 5-0 mark at home, while the Lady Tigers fell to 4-2 on the season.
“I was pleased with our effort today,” said head coach Stephany Smith. “We came out strong, and even when the score started separating itself, we showed a lot of maturity in continuing to try to execute our offense and play well. I know things got a little looser in the second half and we were a little sloppy, but overall I am very happy with the way we played.”
For the second time in as many outings, the Tide utilized a suffocating first-half defensive effort to build a halftime lead. Savannah State made only three field goals and shot just 16.7 percent from the field in the opening frame. The Lady Tigers scored six points in the first 13:47 of the game and had only 20 in the first half.
Meanwhile, Alabama’s offense was clicking behind Navonda Moore, who has put together her best offensive games of the season in the last two games. Moore, who poured in 25 points against Tennessee Chattanooga on Wednesday, scored 23 in the first half alone this afternoon.
Her efforts helped the Tide shoot 74.1 percent in the first 20 minutes and led by as many as 38 points before entering the locker room with a 61-20 lead at the break.
In the second half, Moore found wide-open teammates, dishing four assists to tie for the team high in the game. Three other Tide players finished in double figures in scoring on the afternoon, including Kate Mastin, who drained three more three-pointers en route to 15 points.
“The second half was important, because we got a chance to get some more minutes to some different players,” said Smith. “Tamara Williams and Dedrea Magee both got some good playing time and some confidence, and that really makes me happy. We will need both to contribute this season, so seeing them come in and play well was encouraging.”
Dedrea Magee, the Gatorade Player of the Year as a prep in Mississippi last season, notched the first double-figure scoring effort of her young career with 10 points to go with five rebounds.
Classmate Alyson Butler did the same, tallying 11 points that included three treys. Butler had four assists and a pair of steals as well. Nathalie Reshard grabbed 10 rebounds, her second double-figure effort on the boards this season.
The numbers were impressive. The 102 points scored marked the Tide’s first 100-point effort since Nov. 20, 2001, when UA beat Troy State, 101-58. Alabama’s 54-point margin of victory was its largest since Dec. 2, 1997, when UA beat Samford by 61. The Tide also forced 37 Lady Tiger turnovers, the most by an opponent since January of 1996.
In the end though, the most important statistic was in the win column, as the Tide won its third straight and the fifth in the last six. Alabama won its fifth straight at home for the first time since 2004, when the Tide won its first five in Coleman Coliseum before falling in the sixth home contest.
The Tide has a chance to extend the streak on Monday, Dec. 4, when UA welcomes McNeese State to Tuscaloosa. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Coleman Coliseum. Alabama travels to New Orleans to face Tulane next Saturday, Dec. 11, in just the second true road game of the season.
