Southeastern (7-5) lost for the first time in seven tries in Hammond this season, despite forcing 24 Alabama turnovers. The first Southeastern Conference team to visit the University Center since the 2002-03 season, the Crimson Tide (12-3) forced the Lady Lions into 22 turnovers, however, while also out-rebounding the Lady Lions, 46-30. The win was Alabama's sixth in a row.
Southeastern head coach Lori Davis Jones was pleased with the team's effort to get back into the game after trailing by as many as 12 points, but was frustrated that her team let an opportunity slip away.
“We were very proud of the team's effort to get back into the game,” Jones said. “We had a very good opportunity to beat an SEC opponent on our floor, but we made too many turnovers in crucial situations. We have to limit our wasted possessions if we are going to be successful in the Southland Conference.”
Southeastern senior forward Kristy Carlin scored a game-high 16 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds for the Lady Lions. Carlin finished the game one point shy of becoming the school's 16th student-athlete to reach 1,000 career points. The Walker native will be honored for becoming the 11th student-athlete in school history to reach both 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds during Tuesday's game with Millsaps.
Senior guard Bethany Sinclair finished with eight points and six rebounds for Southeastern, while junior forward Zevy Ivory grabbed six boards as well. Sinclair, Carlin and Ivory each had two steals apiece, while freshman guard Kelli Jenkins dished out a team-high three assists for the Lady Lions.
Alabama was led by freshman guard Ericka Russell's 14 points. Russell and sophomore guard Alyson Butler (12 points) both hit key three-pointers during the game-deciding run. Junior center Courtney Strauthers, junior guard Dedrea Magee and sophomore forward Tierney Jenkins pulled down seven rebounds apiece for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama led by eight at halftime and pushed the lead to as much as 12 early in the second half. A jumper by Magee with 12:05 remaining put Alabama up, 43-32.
With Southeastern's hopes dwindling, Carlin took over. After a layup by Sinclair cut the Alabama margin to nine, Carlin scored the game's next seven points. Lady Lion junior guard Kim Edmonson capped the team's 12-0 run with a long three to put Southeastern up, 44-43, with 6:56 left.
Russell scored Alabama's next five points to break the scoring drought, hitting a three with 5:31 left to put the Crimson Tide up, 48-44, with 5:31 left.
Southeastern fought back, as Carlin hit three straight free throws to pull the Lady Lions within one, 48-47, with 4:01 left. With a chance to tie, the SLC's top free throw shooter missed the second of two tries from the charity stripe.
The team's traded empty possessions, before Butler buried a three to put the Crimson Tide up by four, 51-47, with 2:46 left. After a Carlin shot rimmed out, Russell hit the dagger, drilling a long three and drawing a foul on Jenkins in the process. Russell completed the four-point play to give Alabama a 55-47 lead with 2:11 left. Southeastern would get no closer than seven the rest of the way.
Southeastern will close out its non-conference schedule on Tuesday, hosting Millsaps at 7 p.m. in the University Center. Tuesday's game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net.
