Tulane Snaps Tide?s Four-Game Winning Streak, 83-68
12/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS, La.??After winning its last four games??including three straight at home??the Alabama women’s basketball team put its winning streak on the line at Tulane Saturday, falling 83-68 at Fogelman Arena in New Orleans.
Alabama (7-3) continued its hot shooting of late in the first half, building a 17-point lead over the Green Wave and executing its offense effectively. The Tide shot 51% from the field for the game, lead by Navonda Moore’s 30 points??the second time the senior has scored 30 in her Alabama career.
Tulane (7-2), however, was able to close the gap in the last two minutes of the first half, with the Green Wave pulling to within seven at the break. Though Alabama held Tulane to just 35.7% shooting in the first half, the Green Wave hit 51% of its shots in the second, using the three-point shot to climb back into the game.
Tulane was 10-of-19 from three in the game, for 52.6%, lead by Nikki Luckhurst’s 5-of-7 shooting from deep.
“This afternoon was a tale of two halves,” Alabama head coach Stephany Smith said. “We really took it to them in the first 15 minutes but then they started getting hot and making some shots and we didn’t respond.”
The Tide struggled to find an answer to Tulane’s hot shooting and couldn’t overcome the full-court press of the Green Wave, which forced 26 Alabama turnovers in the 15-point comeback win. Tulane was able to seal the win down the stretch, capitalizing from the free-throw line on 25-of-32 foul shots.
Moore’s 30 points were one shy of her career-high of 31, which came last season against Tennessee.
“Navonda had an outstanding first half and made some shots in the second half but it would have been nice if a few more of her three-pointers had fallen,” coach Smith said.
Alabama also got contributions from three of its freshmen, with Tamara Williams adding six points and six rebounds, Alyson Butler contributing six points on two three-pointers, and Talisha Chandler bringing in five rebounds.
Alabama plays its final non-conference road game next Saturday when the Tide travels to Ruston, La. to face Louisiana Tech. Alabama will then return to Tuscaloosa for four straight home games before beginning its conference season on the road at Tennessee, Jan. 3.
