TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Southeastern Louisiana's Celica Sterling netted a team-high 16 points in her Lady Lion debut, but it was not enough as SLU fell to Alabama, 88-40, in the 2018-19 women's basketball season opener for both teams Wednesday night in Coleman Coliseum.
 
Southeastern (0-1) shot just 19.4 percent (13-for-67) from the floor on the way to losing its fifth consecutive season opener. Alabama (1-0) coupled its dominant defensive effort with a 59-31 rebounding advantage.
 
Southeastern jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the game on a jumper by Charliee Dugas, but Alabama scored the next 13 points on the way to a 21-8 first quarter advantage.
 
A nearly six-minute second quarter Southeastern scoring drought allowed Alabama to push its lead to 30, as the Crimson Tide went into the break with a 43-16 advantage. SLU got no closer than 23 in the final half.
 
Sterling was the lone Lady Lion in double figures on the night, as Kania Lasker-Rouse and Caitlyn Williams led SLU with two assists apiece. Williams also finished with a team-high eight rebounds, while Dugas led the Southeastern defensive effort with four steals.
 
Shaquera Wade led five Crimson Tide players in double figures with a game-high 20 points. Jasmine Walker posted a double-double for UA with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Allie Craig Cruce (12 points), De'Sha Benjamin (11 points) and Jordan Lewis (10 points) contributed to a balanced Alabama scoring attack.
 
Southeastern will return home to host Mobile on Monday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. in the University Center. In conjunction with Monday's home opener, Southeastern Athletics Marketing and Student Promotions will host the Pack the House promotion. The first 300 students in attendance will receive free food.
 
LionVision subscribers will be able to access a live video stream (no audio) of Monday's game at www.LionSports.net/watch.
 
Sydney Rivers and Lauren Bush will be Monday's Spotlight Players of the Game. The first 125 fans will receive a trading card featuring the Lady Lion pair, courtesy of PRIDE.
 
TICKET INFORMATION
For ticket information on the upcoming Southeastern women's basketball season, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.lionsports.net/tickets.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Women's Basketball, follow @SoutheasternWBB on Twitter, like /SoutheasternWBB on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.