LSU, Fowles too much for Bama to overcome

TUSCALOOSA | Midway through the first half the University of Alabama women’s basketball team played toe-to-toe with 6-foot-6 senior center Sylvia Fowles and the No. 8 LSU Tigers.

The Crimson Tide came out and aggressively denied the post to the Naismith Trophy finalist, forcing the Tigers into 12 turnovers.

But, in the end LSU had too much athleticism and too much Fowles for Alabama to contend with, and the Tigers pulled away with a 22-3 run in the second half for an 89-53 win Thursday night at Coleman Coliseum.

Fowles scored 24 points and had 11 rebounds in 22 minutes of action. Quianna Chaney scored 13 points and Allison Hightower added 11.

“What a powerful force [Fowles] is,” Tide coach Stephany Smith said. “She’s surrounded by a great group of talent as well. You’re talking about a team that has nine seniors and four straight trips to the Final Four.

“In the end they’re a very powerful basketball team, and we didn’t have many answers for that.”

Tierney Jenkins continued to show signs of improvement and led Alabama (8-15, 1-7) with 12 points.

Camilla Blands, the Crimson Tide’s third-leading scorer, did not play due to a deep laceration on her left hand sustained in practice. A timetable for her return has not been set.

With 11:12 remaining in the first half, Alabama had held Fowles to just two points and two rebounds and allowed her just two shots.

Alabama trailed 18-12, but did not get closer as Fowles and the Lady Tigers pulled away and led at the half 43-26.

Fowles said the difference in the second half was Alabama’s inability to get quick help on the post.

“I don’t think I was posting hard enough [in the first half] or getting good post position the way I should normally have,” Fowles said. “Coach said some things to me at halftime and asked me what would be a better position to get the ball. I utilized that and started getting more touches in the second half.”

Hillcrest High School’s Christy Elliott, a senior walk-on guard and practice player, got her first career action in the first half, registering a minute of playing time when Alabama got in foul trouble.

The Tide was whistled for 15 first-half fouls. LSU committed just three.

Elliott said although her time on the court was brief, it was exciting to play for an SEC team.

“I just go out and practice every day and fight to make myself better and to make my teammates better. I just work hard every day for the opportunity, and it came up today.”

She said her dad, Jerome Elliott, is the Hillcrest’s girls coach and couldn’t make it due the Lady Patriots playing in the Class 6A, Area 9 tournament.

Alabama will host Vanderbilt at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Smith said the team will concentrate on taking it one day at a time in preparation for the Commodores.

“It’s just important to keep our spirits high and stay positive and get better every single day.”