Alabama defeats North Florida 69-47

The University of Alabama women’s basketball team (9-1) topped North Florida (3-7) with a 69-47 victory in Coleman Coliseum Monday afternoon in the ninth annual 5th Grade Fastbreak game.
The Crimson Tide finished with three players in double figures and forced 20 turnovers, including six in the first five minutes of the second half.
“I just want to thank all of the schools in the area that came out to support us today,” Alabama head coach Kristy Curry said in a news release. “What an incredible environment. Those 5th graders hopefully left here having a fun day, and they’ll come back and see us play. We just appreciate the support of the event from our administration and facilities, everyone who helped make this possible, promotions and marketing. What a great morning for them, and I hope they had a great day.
“As far as the game, I thought we were not very good from the start,” Curry said. “I guess ugly counts, but we have a lot of improving we need to do. I’m trying to get their attention and focus on our basketball team improving, yet them enjoying the holidays at the same time. With 10 out of 13 players being freshmen and sophomores, we’ve got to quickly react to that. I hope we come out in the morning and continue to grow and get better.”
Alabama started by making only one of its first 10 attempts from the floor, but a put back off an offensive rebound by freshman Shaquera Wade ended a scoring drought of nearly four minutes.
The Ospreys would carry a 12-10 lead into the second quarter after leading by as many as seven points.
Both teams were 4-of-16 from the field and grabbed 13 rebounds in the opening 10 minutes.
The Tide played from behind for almost the entire second quarter, as North Florida extended its lead back to six points on a jumper by freshman Hadley Kiefer in the opening minutes.
Alabama eventually pulled even when sophomore Hannah Cook made two free throws at the 1:47 mark after being fouled on an attempt behind the arc.
Sophomore Quanetria Bolton put the Tide ahead for good at 24-22 when she converted a jumper on Alabama’s next possession.
The Tide took a 29-22 lead into the locker room on the strength of an 11-0 run to close the half. Senior Nikki Hegstetter hauled in nine rebounds before halftime, tying her season-high in that category, while Cook tallied 11 points.
Both teams struggled early after returning from the break. Alabama and North Florida each scored one basket in the first 90 seconds, but more than 2:30 would elapse before the next points were recorded.
After the Ospreys closed within four points (31-27), the Tide put together another 11-0 run to surge ahead, 42-27. Each team made five field goals, but Alabama took advantage of its trips to the foul line, draining nine of its 10 attempts and also had six steals in the third.
North Florida scored the opening points of the final frame to put the score at 49-38 in favor of the Tide, but that was as close as the Ospreys would get the rest of the way.
A trio of treys late in the game resulted in the lead swelling to 20 points before freshman Trista Magee closed the scoring with two foul shots with 13 seconds remaining.
For the game, Alabama shot 24-of-65 (36.9 percent) from the floor and brought down 43 rebounds, while North Florida was 16-of-57 (28.1 percent) from the field and recorded 45 rebounds. The Tide dished out 15 assists compared to committing only eight turnovers and totaled 11 steals.
The Ospreys’ 20 turnovers resulted in 19 points for Alabama.
Cook led the Tide in scoring with 17 points, while Hegstetter’s 13 rebounds were a game-high and personal season-high. Sophomore Meoshonti Knight, a Central Catholic High alum, recorded her first career double-double, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She also had one block and three steals.
North Florida junior Claire Ioannidis was the game’s highest scorer with 21 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
Alabama hits the road for its next contest, heading to Atlanta Friday to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at 6 p.m.