Athens, GA – After recovering from the loss last Sunday to LSU and the 11 point loss to Arkansas on Thursday, the Crimson Tide played the Georgia Bulldogs on Sunday, and left Athens with a 58-53 win.
The game started off with Georgia scoring the game’s first four points. The Crimson Tide wouldn’t score their first basket until three and a half minutes into the game. The Tide were then able to tie the game at eight and pull ahead with a free throw with 1:48 left in the first. The Bulldogs would score four free throws and the first quarter would end 12-9 in favor of the Bulldogs.
The Crimson Tide offensive began to wake up in the second quarter behind freshmen guard De’sha Benjamin’s nine points and 100 percent three-point shooting. The two teams went back and forth with Ariyah Copeland tipping in a missed layup with 7:47 to take an 18-17 lead. The Bulldogs would not have the lead again for the rest of the game.
The momentum of the game shifted with seven minutes left in the second quarter as Benjamin was able to score two three pointers and received help from other members on the floor for four layups before the half dominating the inside of the paint.
The second half began with a dominating guard play by Cierra Johnson as she took control of the game, offensively scoring the Tides first six points and defensively with rebounds. Johnson would finish leading the Tide with 18 points 8 rebounds 7 steals and 3 assists.
The Crimson Tide would control the game throughout the second half not losing the lead and going on a game high 13-point run in the fourth quarter. The Tide would finish the game shooting 42 percent from the field and 36 percent from deep.
The Georgia Bulldogs were led by forward Caliya Robinson who scored 13 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and three blocks in 36 minutes of play. Also, the Bulldogs sophomore guard Maya Caldwell had a good outing scoring 11 points two steals and a block.
Defensively Alabama held Georgia to only 29% shooting on the game and only 18 percent from deep. The Georgia Bulldogs lead the game with second chance points and points off turnovers. This is Georgia’s third straight loss moving them to 12-8 on the season and 3-4 in SEC competition.
This win would move Alabama’s record to 11-1- on the season and 3-5 in SEC competition. The Crimson Tide will continue conference play next Sunday and face off next Sunday against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at home who are coming off a 31-point win over Ole Miss today.
Player of game: Cierra Johnson 18 points, 8 rebounds, 7 steals, 3 assists
