Feb. 23, 2003
Tuscaloosa, Ala. –
Rita Adams hit clutch free throws with 44 seconds remaining in double- overtime to give the Kentucky women’s basketball team a 73-71 win over Alabama in Coleman Coliseum Sunday. It marked Kentucky’s first double-overtime game since 1986 and first road win of the season. UK improves to 11-13 overall, 4-8 in the Southeastern Conference.
With Alabama (12-13, 2-10 SEC) leading 60-57 with 1:06 remaining in regulation, Adams hit a jumper at the top of top of the key to make it a one-point game, 60-59, with 44 seconds left. Alabama’s Shun Hunter’s layup with 11.2 seconds on the clock, pushed UA’s lead back to three, 62-59. Adams attempted a three-pointer on the next play but Alabama recovered the missed shot. The Tide proceeded to turn the ball over on the ensuing pass, giving the Cats 3.8 seconds to set up a play. This time it was SeSe Helm who attempted the tie but her desperation three-pointer was an air ball. Again, Kentucky forced a Tide turnover to regain possession with a mere :00.5 on the clock. After a timeout, Potts received the inbounds pass in the corner where she nailed the trey at the buzzer, tying the game at 62. She finished with a game-high 18 points, hitting a school-record tying six three-pointers.
“We practice situations like that all the time in practice,” Potts said. “I was just thinking ‘catch and shoot’. Luckily it went in.”
In the first overtime, Helm scored all four of UK’s points and gave the Cats a 66-64 advantage. Alabama’s Natasha Gamble came down the court and hit a field goal with :00.4 to extend the game into double overtime.
Helm completed a three-point play in the second overtime to give UK the lead, 69-67. Jennifer Humphrey nailed two free throws to increase the Cats’ lead to 71-67 before Gamble’s field goal with 2:04 left pulled the Tide back within two, 71-69. Monique Bivins tied the game at 71 when she hit both of her shots from the charity stripe with one minute remaining. Adams was then fouled on the next play, giving her two foul shots for the win.
“What a courageous effort by both teams today,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “I told my assistant coaches that whoever had the possession at the end of this game would win. I thought we did better at limiting their second shots at the end of the game but we still gave up too many rebounds. What a game. We really fought for that win.”
UK’s last double-overtime win was a 91-90 victory over Auburn on Feb. 2, 1986.
“It’s just tough. This is really, really hard, ” Alabama Coach Rick Moody said. “You practice situations on the practice floor all the time. The game is never over until the final buzzer goes off and you have to concentrate for the whole 40 minutes. In this case 50 minutes. Our players played hard but didn’t play real smart.”
Also playing well for the Cats was Danyelle Payne who earned her first start of the season. She finished with a career-high 12 points after hitting a career-best four three-pointers. Adams and Helm each scored 14 points while Humphrey added 10.
Both teams were blistering the nets in the first half and at one point were shooting 70 percent from the floor. After several lead changes the Cats held a 32-31 advantage at the half thanks largely to Payne’s three three-pointers. The Cats are 5-1 this season when leading at the half.Gamble led four Tide players in double-digits with 17 points. The Tide outrebounded UK 50-20 and forced a season-high 26 Wildcat turnovers. UK shot 50 percent from the floor compared to Alabama’s 37.7 percent.
The Cats travel to Columbia, S.C. for a rematch with No. 17/15 South Carolina in their next game on Thursday, Feb. 27. The game time is slated for 7 p.m. ET and will be played at the newly built Carolina Center.
