Alabama Athletics
Alabama Women’s Basketball's Winning Streak Ends With Loss to USC
Alabama put up a fight late Saturday night inside South Point Arena in Las Vegas but fell to USC to close out the 2019 South Point Thanksgiving Shootout.
The Crimson Tide (5-2) took its second loss of the season while the Trojans (4-3) interrupted their three-game losing streak.
Sophomore De’Sha Benjamin led Alabama with 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Benjamin was 10-of-20 for the tournament all while averaging 11 points for the two games played.
Senior Cierra Johnson also put up double figures for the team with 11 points and five rebounds.
Redshirt junior Jordan Lewis was named to the 2019 All-Tournament Team after averaging 15 points and 5.5 rebounds between the two games.
Despite the loss, Alabama out-rebounded USC 37-30.
“We’re disappointed,” Crimson Tide coach Kristy Curry said in a release. “We weren’t able to hit shots, especially in a situation where both teams are tired. I thought our bench would’ve helped us a little more, but we didn’t have good play from our backcourt. We just have to be more consistent and that’s the most disappointing thing from this experience.”
The first quarter of the game was marked by neither team having a lead of more than four points as USC took a 18-14 lead.
The Trojans maintained it up to halftime, 28-22.
Alabama pulled within four points, but the Trojans entered the fourth quarter still up 44-39.
Junior Jasmine Walker opened the fourth quarter by draining a 3-pointer which pulled Alabama within two. USC fired back with a 6-0 run, making the score 50-42. The Trojans created an 11-point lead before sophomore Megan Abrams scored six consecutive points, making the score 56-52 with 2:34 on the clock.
Johnson hit three free throws later to pull Alabama within one point, 56-55, but USC converted its free throws down the stretch.
Alabama begins a six-game homestand with the Big 12/SEC Challenge against Iowa State on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT inside Coleman Coliseum. The SEC Network will air the game.
