Story Courtesy Georgia Southern sports information
Alabama 76, Georgia Southern 71
TUSCALOOSA, AL - Alabama junior Kate Mastin went 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the final minute to guide the Crimson Tide to a 76-71 victory over Georgia Southern Thursday afternoon at Coleman Coliseum.
Georgia Southern (2-6) senior Nicole Newton (Dublin, Ga.) set new career highs with a game-best 20 points and 14 rebounds, while senior Lee DuBose (Jefferson, Ga.) tallied 17.
“We were in position to win,” said GSU head coach Rusty Cram. “We fought back hard, but we kept putting ourselves in a hole and we expended so much energy coming back that we couldn’t finish the job.”
Down seven at the break and as many as nine early in the final period, the Lady Eagles stayed within single digits throughout the second half.
After two free throws from junior Lauren Hill gave UA a 66-58 lead with 3:55 remaining, freshman Ashley Rivens (Charlotte, N.C.) started a 7-0 run with a three-pointer. Newton added two points from the charity stripe and Brown capped off the rally with a layup.
A Mastin jumpshot on Alabama’s (5-5) next trip down the floor held off the comeback momentarily, but Newton brought GSU to within two on a free throw and DuBose tied the score at 68-68 with 1:22 left on two more points from the line.
From there, Mastin took over, getting a steal at the 40 second mark before converting two at the line. After a missed GSU attempt, Mastin made two more to give the Tide a 72-68 lead.
DuBose hit a triple from the top of the key to cut the margin to one, 72-71 with 12 seconds left, but two free throws and a turnover effectively ended the contest.
“We’re three points down with 11 seconds left and instead of getting a shot off or a timeout, we turn it over again,” added Cram. “It was a miscommunication.”
Alabama led for the first seven-plus minutes and had an 18-12 lead just over five minutes into the game. Newton and DuBose combined to erase the advantage and sophomore Tiffany Brown (Waxhaw, N.C.) hit a layup to give GSU its first lead of the contest.
A shooting slump allowed the Crimson Tide to take a 10-point lead with five minutes to go in the opening half. The Lady Eagles went also five minutes between scores before Brown broke the slump and began a 6-0 run.
Hill sent Alabama into halftime with a 42-35 lead, hitting a shot with four seconds left.
Newton had 11 points at the break, shooting 5-for-9 from the field, and had five rebounds.
“Nicole did a great job, but I expect that every night from her. She is such a fiery competitor, I just wish we could get her some help.”
Hill led the Tide’s scoring efforts in the first half with 13.
Alabama enjoyed a considerable advantage at the free throw line in the opening half, shooting 11-for-17, while Georgia Southern converted just 3-of-10.