Lady Bulldogs' Woes Continue, Fall To Alabama, 61-59
* Official Statistics
* Official Statistics (PDF)
* Postgame Quotes
McKinney, Roberts, Warren score 12 points each in loss
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The Mississippi State University women's basketball team(6-18, 1-10 SEC) fell to the University of Alabama (9-15, 3-8) by a final of61-59 on Sunday afternoon at Humphrey Coliseum. Senior forward MamieMcKinney, freshman forward Lauren Roberts and senior guard Doceide Warrenscored 12 points apiece as MSU dropped its ninth-straight conferencedecision for the first time since the 1996-97 season.
Scoring the game's first basket, MSU held a lead throughout the entire firsthalf with the largest margin at 12 with 5:53 left in the period. The LadyBulldogs went on to lead by 10 at the half, 32-22.
Marked by four ties in the final 5:39 of the game, the Lady Bulldogsrelinquished their initial lead on an Alabama free throw from Kate Mastin.McKinney's lay-up with 5:17 remaining tied the game again before UA'sHarriet Barnes notched it at 55 with 4:51 left to play. After a free throweach from Roberts and McKinney put MSU on top by two, Mastin hit a pair ofbaskets from the charity stripe for the Crimson Tide to tie it at 57 allwith 2:41 on the clock. Alabama's first lead of the game came at the 1:50mark when Dee Merriweather hit a jumper to put the Tide up by two. DespiteWarren tying the game at 59 with 12 seconds, Lauren Hill hit thegame-winning shot with one second on the clock to give the Crimson Tide the61-59 win.
"I think that we just didn't focus for a couple of possessions and thefree-throw line probably was the biggest difference," said head coach SharonFanning. "I didn't think we kept our poise down the stretch. I thought thelast 2.2 seconds, that we had a really, really good shot. I thought thatthey did a great job of executing then. It is one of those situations whereit comes back to fundamentals. We will just have to play a little harder."
Shooting a season-low 4.3 percent from behind the arc, State's lonethree-point basket was made by freshman guard Marneshia Richard at the 12:43mark of the second half. With 17 turnovers, the Lady Bulldogs managed totally fewer turnovers than their opponent for the eighth time this season.
Warren's 12 points were a season-high, while Roberts tallied a double-digitscoring total for only the third time this season. Freshman guard RobinPorter brought down a season-high seven rebounds.
Navonda Moore and Merriweather led the Crimson Tide with 12 points apiece.Merriweather recorded 14 boards, while Mastin added 11 points in the win.
The Lady Bulldogs return to action Sunday, Feb. 19 when they host theUniversity of Kentucky in a 2 p.m. contest at Humphrey Coliseum. State willhonor the four Lady Bulldog seniors in a pre-game ceremony.
GAME NOTES
Postgame Quotes
MSU HEAD COACH SHARON FANNING
Opening comments
"I think free throws and I think block outs are two things that stand out in my mind. In the first half they (Alabama) had one assist and 15 turnovers and in the second half they didn't turnover it over as much and took better care of the basketball. I felt like for the most part we took good shots. They went to a man (defense) momentarily and then they matched back up. We had a key turnover down the stretch. I think that we just didn't focus a couple possessions and at the free- throw line probably was the biggest difference. "
On shooting
"I thought that we were getting the ball inside better. We need to focus on getting to the free-throw line and making layups. I didn't think we kept our poise down the stretch. I thought the last 2.2 seconds, that we had a really, really good shot. I thought they did a great job executing then. It wasn't meant to be and we will just have to play a little bit harder. It is one of those situations where it comes back to fundamentals."
On ball movement
"I think that we did move and cut and we really missed several opportunities on the back side. If they match up, it seems like the weak side passes are where they are more vulnerable especially if the ball is moving and reversing. "
On Kentucky
"We just have to take this week and probably Thursday, it is going to be good that we don't have a game. We can refocus. We have an early morning practice on Tuesday. Kentucky has been playing well, playing with a lot of confidence. Right now, this time of the year everybody is so hungry for the win. You just have to play your best ball."
MISSISSIPPI STATE PLAYER QUOTES
MAMIE MCKINNEY, SENIOR FORWARD
On the loss
"All of the losses have been tough. This game was just one loss in itself. We fought hard but allowed them back into the game. We really just missed a lot of key block outs and the free throws hurt us."
LAUREN ROBERTS, FRESHMAN FORWARD
On foul trouble
"I definitely think that held us back because Blessing and I are both real aggressive. Our style of play may hold us back on the floor if they are going to call a lot of fouls. We have to play smarter and still be aggressive without getting fouls called."
DOCEIDE WARREN, SENIOR GUARD
On Alabama's last shot
"I think we did a good job of contesting her shot. She made a good play by getting the offensive rebound. It was a lack of communication on our part and not blocking out correctly."
On her final shot
"It was a good play we ran and I think I had a good look at the basket. It just fell short."