TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama dominated the glass, outrebounding Middle Tennessee by 20, en route to an 80-66 win Monday night at Coleman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide scored 17 second-chance points and won the battle on the boards, 47-27, using size and athleticism to break open a six-point contest at the half. Alabama scored 46 points in the second half and built the lead to as many as 22 points with six minutes to play.
Middle Tennessee shot only 35 percent in the first half yet trailed just 34-28 at the break. Chrissy Givens kept the Lady Raiders in the game with seven points while Patrice Holmes had nine points, including a bucket and a three-pointer in the final two minutes. Middle Tennessee was also outrebounded, 27-15, in the first 20 minutes.
Alabama's Natasha Gamble had six of her team's 15 field goals in the first half for 12 points, but the Crimson Tide was just 3-of-10 from the foul line, keeping the Lady Raiders in the contest.
In the second half Alabama used an 18-8 run to open the lead to 20 points midway through the period. The Lady Raiders had 11 turnovers in both halves, but Alabama turned up the defensive intensity in the second period and made it much tougher to get off a shot.
Holmes and Givens both finished with 16 points, with Tia Stovall chipping in 15. Gamble led all scorers with 17 points for the Crimson Tide, with Monique Bivins adding 14 and Marverly Nettles 10.
The Lady Raiders travel to the Houston Classic this weekend, taking on Wisconsin Saturday at 2 p.m. and the host Cougars Sunday at 2 p.m.
GAME NOTES
STARTERS AGAIN: Middle Tennessee started the same five - Krystle Horton, Tia Stovall, Chrissy Givens, Patrice Holmes and Starr Orr - for the third straight contest.
RETURNING HOME: Freshmen Starr Orr and Latoya Barclay both had 15-20 family members and friends in the crowd for the contest. Orr hails from Danville, Ala., while Barclay is from Harvest, Ala.
HORTON STREAK ENDS: Krystle Horton's 15-game double-figure streak came to an end. The sophomore had only eight points in the contest.
STOVALL CONTINUES TO SCORE: Junior Tia Stovall continues to put the ball in the basket through the first three games of the season, scoring 15 points in the loss. The Estill Springs, Tenn., native is averaging 18.3 points per game, almost seven points above her career average.
TIDBITS: Chrissy Givens tied a career-high with seven made field goals and set a new high with 13 attempts in the contest. The sophomore also tied her career-high, playing 32 minutes ... Ditte Jakobsen saw the most action in her career, playing 27 minutes. Jakobsen also tied her career-high with three assists.
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