Tide wins fourth game of the month

TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama women’s basketball team lost its first four games of the 2007-08 season, failing to score more than 56 points in any of those losses.

The Crimson Tide limped to a 2-5 record in November with narrow losses to Samford and Arkansas State.

However, since the calendar turned to December, Alabama had won three of five games going into Saturday’s game with Jacksonville State.

Make it four wins in the month of December.

Behind a combined 39 points from Camilla Blands and Tierney Jenkins, Alabama knocked off Jacksonville State 63-54 to win its third game in a row and sixth in its last nine.

The win gives the Crimson Tide a 4-3 record at home. In its last four wins Alabama has scored more than 60 points.

The Crimson Tide closed the game out on a 10-4 run.

Jenkins recorded a double-double, scoring 19 points despite being in foul trouble for much of the second half. She had 13 rebounds – 10 of which came in the second half.

Junior guard Camilla Blands scored a game-high 20 points on 7-for-14 shooting, including 4 of 10 from 3-point range. She also had three blocks and five steals.

“What a performance Blands had,” coach Stephany Smith said. “She knocked down huge shots and equally important were the charges that she took.

“It’s amazing what a difference a year makes with the confidence that she’s playing with.”

Blands made two 3-pointers, had three steals, one block and one rebound during the closing minutes while Jenkins was in and out of the game due to foul trouble.

Blands said being one of the older members of the team she tries to take responsibility to lead the team.

“When our leading scorer goes out you know that somebody else is probably going to have to take the shot … actually I didn’t even think about it,” Blands said of her taking over the game.

“We’re down [in numbers] in the roster now so of course everybody has to contribute, and I just try to do my best out there.”

Alabama opened the game shooting 1-for-7 from the field, but the Crimson Tide settled down to shoot 43.8 percent in the first half on 14 of 32 shooting.

Jacksonville State (5-6), which entered the game on a two-game losing streak, held an 11-3 lead early in the game before Alabama tied the score at 14 on three layups by Jenkins and jumpers by Talisha Chandler and Tamara Williams.

Alabama closed the half on a 9-5 run and held a 31-26 halftime lead.

Jenkins led the Crimson Tide with 11 points at the half. She made 5-for-11 from the field and 1 of 1 from the free throw line. Jenkins came into the game averaging 12.8 points per game and set a career high with 29 points against Hampton on Thursday.

Jacksonville State’s Jolie Efezokhae led the Gamecocks with 15 points. Zenobia Pitts scored 10.

Alabama’s Dedrea Magee had nine assists.

Smith said the team will have the week off and will return to practice Dec. 29. Alabama will host East Tennessee State on Jan. 2 at 6 p.m.