TUSCALOOSA, Ala.? Staying true to form the Kentucky vs. Alabama women?s basketball game came down to the wire as the Crimson Tide defeated the Wildcats 69-63 in overtime Sunday in the team?s conference opener. The last 11 meetings have now been decided by seven points or less.
The Wildcats (11-5, 0-1 SEC) took a three-point lead, 57-54, in regulation after Danyelle Payne hit one of two free throw attempts with 3.5 seconds left. Alabama?s Marverly Nettles then attempted a desperation shot at the buzzer from half court as Sara Potts was whistled for the foul. Nettles converted all three free-throws to send the game into overtime at 57 each. The Crimson Tide went on to out-score the Cats 12-6 in overtime to clinch the unlikely victory. It was UK?s first overtime game of the season and the second overtime game with Alabama in the last three meetings. The Cats are now 15-17 all-time in extra minutes, 1-1 vs. Alabama.
?It was a hard fought game,? UK Coach Mickie DeMoss said. ?It?s a shame the game had to end like this but if we hit our free throws, this doesn?t happen.?
UK went 20-of-30 from the charity stripe (66.7 percent), including 9-of-13 in the final eight minutes. Alabama hit 22-of-34 (64.7 percent). The rebounds were even at 50 each.
Kentucky was led by freshman Samantha Mahoney who scored a career-high 21 points. Mahoney made 7-of-16 shots, including 6-of-10 free-throws in a career-high 40 minutes of action. Senior guard Danyelle Payne added 13 points, one point shy of her season high. Junior forward/center Jennifer Humphrey brought down a team-high nine rebounds for the Cats.
Nettles led the Tide with 20 points while center Dee Merriweather, who scored a team-high six points in the extra minutes, added 11. She also pulled down a game and career-high 17 rebounds.
In regulation, Merriweather hit two free throws with 59 seconds remaining, tying the score at 52 apiece. Mahoney was fouled on the Cats? next possession and calmly hit two free throws of her own to give UK a 52-50 lead with 27.2 seconds to go. A missed three-point attempt by Alabama gave the ball back to Kentucky and this time Jennifer Humphrey was sent to the line. Humphrey hit both free throws with 11.1 seconds left for a 54-50 Wildcat lead. Alabama?s Lateefah Joye hustled down the court for a layup before Payne was fouled on the next play. She hit the first of two free throws with 3.5 ticks on the clock.
The Cats trailed by as many as nine points, 19-10, early in the game before exploding on a 19-2 run to take a 29-21 lead at half. UK held the Crimson Tide to just one field goal in the final 8:56 and just eight field goals total in the first half. Reserve guards Nastassia Alcius and Payne provided the defensive intensity and offensive punch off the bench, sparking the Cats? comeback. The duo combined for 16 points and six rebounds in the opening half. Payne led with nine points and four rebounds while Alcius added seven points. Alabama shot just 8-of-33 for 24.2 percent while Kentucky hit 11-of-29 for 37.9 percent.
For the game, Kentucky shot a season-low 33.3 percent (19-of-57) and committed a season-high 23 turnovers.
The all-time series is tied at 15-15 apiece and the Cats are now 10-14 (1981-2004) in conference openers, including a 2-2 record when meeting Alabama. The Tide own a 9-4 advantage when the game is played in Tuscaloosa.
The Wildcats return home Thursday, Jan. 13 for a match up with nationally-ranked Georgia in Rupp Arena. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 18 and under and may be purchased online at ukathletics.com, in person at the athletics ticket office in Memorial Coliseum or by phone at 859-257-1818 or 1-800-927-CATS.
