MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of West Alabama women's basketball team made 12-of-15 from the free-throw line in a game that was tied five times in the second half on the way to a 62-54 win over Christian Brothers in Gulf South Conference action Saturday at Canale Arena.
West Alabama snapped a four-game losing skid and improved to 5-5 overall, 2-4 in the GSC. Christian Brothers dropped to 4-7 and 2-4.
The Tigers went on a 15-1 run in the opening 10 minutes of regulation before CBU battled back and cut the deficit to three with a 3-pointer by Courtney Banks as time expired int he first half. UWA led 31-28 lead at the break. Thirteen of UWA's first-half points came off through Lady Bic turnovers in the half, six of which were steals.
The Buccaneers maintained a closer reach on the Tigers in the second half, despite shooting 38 percent (11-for-29) in the first half to 32 percent (11-for-35) in the second. The Tigers ended 22-for-55 from the field and 16-for-21 from the free-throw line. UWA totaled 21 points off turnovers with 11 steals and led 46-31 in rebounds.
"We held our composure down the stretch," said UWA head coach
Rusty Cram. "Our focus coming in was on defense and holding them under 60 points. I thought we did well with that, but we just lost our composure at times.
"There have been times where we've shot 30 or 40 percent from the free-throw line and it has cost us the ball game," Cram said. "We felt like the free-throws tonight would be huge. If we don't make those free-throws tonight we get beat again."
Britney McCloud fell two points shy of her season high scoring, finishing with 23 points. She hit nine field goals in 16 attempts and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.
Kelcia Bufkin added 12 points.
Only six Buc's saw action in the game. Banks and Breanna Ridgell led CBU with 12 points each. Taylor Pugh chipped in 11.
West Alabama breaks for Christmas and will not return to action until a Jan. 3 outing at Shorter.The game is set for 2 p.m. EST at the Winthrop-King Centre.
