Bama tops Georgia State

The University of Alabama women’s basketball team topped the Georgia State Panthers, 72-56, Tuesday evening at Foster Auditorium.
The Crimson Tide improved to 4-0, while the Panthers dropped to 1-3.
“I thought that tonight we were able to make some plays and really show some toughness,” Alabama head coach Kristy Curry said in a news release. “We were able to get some stops. I thought Nikki’s (Hegstetter) hustle, that senior toughness, really helped us down the stretch with some key plays, some box outs and finishes, taking charge here and there. It’s just a good win for us because reality hasn’t been the way it’s going to be. We are really going to have to understand that games are going to be close. We have to realize our mistakes, and I thought that tonight, down the stretch, we were able to do that. We nearly won by 20 points, and that’s a good thing.”
Hegstetter brought down nine rebounds, her best effort on the glass this season, to go along with her team-high 14 points.
Three other players ended the game in double figures, as sophomore Meoshonti Knight, a Central Catholic High alum, totaled 13, while fellow sophomores Quanetria Bolton and Karyla Middlebrook scored 12 each.
The teams traded baskets early, but it was Georgia State that was able to build the game’s first sizable advantage late in the first quarter. The Panthers held their largest lead of the game, 19-12, with 1:35 remaining in the opening period.
The score stood at 20-14 going into the second quarter, which was owned by Alabama. The Tide opened the quarter on a 14-0 run, taking a 28-20 lead at that point.
The Panthers chipped away, cutting the lead to four (32-28) at the half.
Alabama used a big second half, outscoring the Panthers 40-28, to claim the victory.
The Tide shot 41.9 percent (13-31) from the field in the half and made 13 of 17 free throws. Georgia State converted just 10 of its 32 field goal attempts and turned the ball over 12 times.
Turnovers proved to be the difference, as Georgia State committed 23 compared to the Tide’s 13. Alabama also shared the ball extremely well, recording 15 assists on 25 made field goals.
For the game, the Tide shot 37 percent (25-68) from the floor, compared to 33 percent (21-63) for the Panthers.
Alabama also made 10 more free throws than Georgia State.
Next up, the Tide will travel to Reno, Nevada, for the Nugget Classic. Alabama will take on Middle Tennessee Friday at 4 p.m. and Utah Valley Saturday at 4 p.m.
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