With 6:53 left in the game, guard Cierra Johnson sat down on the bench and rubbed her head and face in frustration.
Soon after, the rest of the Alabama women’s basketball team’s feelings started to show in its 72-67 loss to South Alabama, which snapped a 39-winning streak at home against non-conference opponents.
It started off well, with Alabama building an 11-point lead with 6:05 left in the second quarter and shooting just under 43 percent. But then just as the men’s team did 15 hours earlier, the shots stopped falling. The 42.9 percent dropped to 30, as the team missed its last nine shots to end the half. It turned the ball over five times, and its lead went from leading by 11 to trailing by three.
Its overall scoring drought was nearly eight minutes long.
“Everyone knows on our team, if you get stops then you can score in transition and get easy baskets,” point guard Jordan Lewis said. “I just think our lack of a defensive effort in the second half really cost us. I think giving up 22 and 23 points, it’s just hard to win games without stopping them.”
Antoinette Lewis was the difference maker for the Jaguars. When Alabama’s drought started, she had two fouls, two rebounds and hadn’t scored. She finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and two fouls.
“Our two fives had four points and six rebounds combined,” Alabama coach Kristy Curry said. “She flat out wore them out. Until Ariyah (Copeland) and AK (Ashley Knight) decide to help us more, we’re really going to struggle… Our fives have to play better.”
Alabama had a shot to close come back in the fourth quarter. With 2:31 left, the Crimson Tide trialed by eight. A minute later, the Crimson Tide hit back-to-back threes to cut the lead to just one, but its offense just couldn’t continue to hit shots.
South Alabama hit its five of its last six shots, while Alabama make three-of-six to close out the game. Overall, Alabama shot just 31.5 percent and 25 percent from three, while South Alabama shot 44 percent and 35 percent from deep.
Lewis and forward Shaquera Wade were the only players that had consistency in the game, shooting a combined 11-24. Lewis led the team with 18 points in her first game back from an injured knee.
Alabama plays again on Saturday against Tulane, who is 7-1 on the season.
