Turnovers have hurt the Alabama women’s basketball team for the majority of the year, and Monday night was no different in its 68-53 loss to No. 17 Kentucky.
The Crimson Tide turned the ball over 24 times, which is two shy of the season high. It is also the seventh time this year Alabama has eclipsed 20 turnovers.
It forced just eight turnovers.
The Wildcats scored 20 points off the 24 turnovers. Junior Cierra Johnson finished with seven of the team’s turnovers, which is tied for her second most of the season.
Alabama trailed by four at halftime but started the second half horribly, making just two of its 10 shots. Kentucky outscored it by 13 in the quarter.
In the first half, Alabama took away Kentucky’s main source of scoring: the three, as the Wildcats made just 30 percent of their shots from beyond the arc. That changed in the second half when they made five of their six attempts.
“I think the transition (changed from the first half),” coach Kristy Curry said. “We turned the ball over a couple times and didn’t have our turnover defense where it needed to be. … They’re really good shooters. They do a great job and really spread it around from three.”
Guard Rhyne Howard did the majority of her damage from beyond the arc, making four of the eight Wildcat 3-pointers.
The bright spots for Alabama were Megan Abrams and Jasmine Walker.
Walker brought down 15 rebounds and scored 12 points for her fifth double-double of the season, which leads the team. Abrams finished with 16 points, just three shy of her career high, while shooting 66 percent from the floor.
“I think success starts at practice so definitely practicing how you play, I can attest to that,” Abrams said.
Alabama also dominated on the glass, bringing down 40 rebounds compared to Kentucky’s 19.
“To outrebound Kentucky 40-19 is a tremendous job,” Curry said.
Johnson came into the game scoring in double figures in her last six games. The Crimson Tide’s leading scorer scored just four points on Monday, taking just four shots.
Howard scored 23 points while shooting 64 percent. Kentucky finished with three players in double figures.
