FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Alabama women’s basketball team picked up its first loss of the season after falling to No. 23 NC State, 68-49, in the Puerto Rico Clasico tournament on Thursday afternoon at Cardinal Gibbons High School.
“We didn’t play well, I thought we got dominated inside,” said Crimson Tide head coach Kristy Curry. “We got outrebounded by 15, (Chelsea) Nelson had 18 (points) and 13 (rebounds), we can’t have our post players getting beat down low like that. We’ve got to learn from it and grow from it and bounce back tomorrow.”
Senior Hannah Cook led the Crimson Tide with 17 points on 5 of 9 shooting from the floor, while senior Meoshonti Knight had nine points and three assists.
NC State jumped out to an 8-2 lead to begin the game and never looked back. The Crimson Tide battled in the second quarter when Cook scored eight straight points to cut the NC State lead to 35-24 with 1:52 remaining in the first half. The Wolfpack responded by pushing the lead to 39-24 at the half.
The Crimson Tide forced 17 turnovers, but could not keep the Wolfpack off the boards as they continued to control the game in the second half.
Alabama will continue Puerto Rico Clasico play Friday at 4 p.m. CT against Elon at Cardinal Gibbons High School.
