Alabama
14-6, 4-3SEC
Vanderbilt
5-16, 1-6SEC
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Alabama Women’s Basketball Holds Off Vanderbilt, 77-75
1/21/2018 5:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Senior Meoshonti Knight led the Crimson Tide with 17 points in the win
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama women's basketball team held off Vanderbilt down the stretch, 77-75, on Sunday afternoon inside Coleman Coliseum.
"I am really proud of the kids today," said head coach Kristy Curry. "I thought we had different players step up play-after-play and make plays against a high-powered and hot Vanderbilt team that is scoring the basketball really well right now. We had four in double-figures, and Ashley Williams comes back has nine (rebounds) and eight (points). The player of the game is Meo (Knight), and she continues to work hard every day. She has been shooting the ball well, and I knew she was about to have a big day.
"I am really proud of our team, and Vanderbilt is going to beat some teams in our league because they are really good offensively and are coming on right now. That's a tough one for anyone to lose. I have a lot of respect for their staff. I am so happy for our kids today for continuing to persevere."
The Crimson Tide (14-6, 4-3 SEC) took the lead over the Commodores (5-16, 1-6 SEC) with 32 seconds left in the game when senior Meoshonti Knight knocked down two free throws to put the Tide up, 73-72. UA hit four more free throws to close out the game and fend off VU.
Knight led the Tide with 17 points, while senior Hannah Cook added 16 points and six rebounds. Senior Quanetria Bolton and sophomore Jordan Lewis finished with 13 points apiece, as six different Alabama players ended with eight or more points in the win.
UA started the game slow and trailed 34-21 with 3:56 remaining in the first half. The Crimson Tide climbed back into the game by closing the opening half on a 9-3 run to trim the deficit to 39-34 after the first 20 minutes of action.
In the second half, the two sides battled back-and-forth when junior Shaquera Wade gave the Tide the 43-42 edge after hitting a free throw with 5:57 remaining in the third quarter. Lewis stretched the Alabama lead to its largest of the game by draining a mid-range jumper with 11 seconds left in the third to put UA up 58-53.
The two teams traded leads eight times in the fourth quarter. Vanderbilt scored five-straight points to go up 70-67 with 2:13 left in the game. Bolton answered for the Tide scoring four-straight points of her own to put UA back on top, 71-70, with 1:27 left.
Less than a minute later, Vanderbilt used a layup to take back the one-point advantage before Knight was fouled on the drive and swished the two free throws to give Alabama the lead with 32 seconds left.
UA shot 48 percent (12-of-25) from the field in the second half and 72 percent (26-of-36) from the free throw in the win.
The Tide will return action on the road Thursday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. CT to take on Kentucky in Lexington, Ky. The game will air live on SEC Network+.
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