CCHS alum Knight scores career high 29 in Alabama's win

Junior Meoshonti Knight scored a career-high 29 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, to guide the Alabama women’s basketball team to a 90-80 victory against Ole Miss Thursday night in Coleman Coliseum.
The Crimson Tide’s 90 points were the most it has scored in a Southeastern Conference game since it put up 93 on the Rebels on Jan. 12, 2014.
Thursday’s win also was the first league victory in Coleman Coliseum since a 55-53 victory against Auburn on Feb. 7, 2010.
“I’m sure excited for our team,” Alabama Women’s Basketball Head Coach Kristy Curry said in a news release. “To bounce back the way we did with the character and toughness against a very good Ole Miss team, that’s a really good team and a really improved team. They’re going to beat a lot of people in our league this year.
“I just thought it was a really great SEC game,” Curry added. “Both teams just played their hearts out, and we were very thankful to make a few plays down the stretch and put ourselves in a position, with some free throws, to win the game.”
Joining Knight in double figures was junior Hannah Cook with 18 points, sophomore Shaquera Wade with 12 points and freshman Jordan Lewis with 11 points. Lewis also finished with a game-high seven assists, one shy of her career high.
Additionally, Alabama freshman Ashley Knight collected five blocks to move into Alabama’s single season top 10 list for blocks. Knight has 41 rejections through 15 games.
Ole Miss (12-3 overall, 1-1 in SEC play) was led by sophomore Madinah Muhammad, who finished with 20 points, while junior Chrishae Rowe added 18 points, three steals, two rebounds and two assists.
What began as a back-and-forth battle soon swayed in the Tide’s favor as Alabama (13-2, 1-1 SEC) scored five unanswered to spark an 18-4 run and end the first quarter with a 26-13 lead.
The Tide extended its lead out to 15 before Ole Miss scored eight straight to cut its deficit to seven at the 4:54 mark of the second.
Alabama pushed its lead back to double digits, but another run for the Rebels cut their deficit to 39-33 at halftime.
The Tide led for double digits for much of the third, thanks to a quick start.
A three-pointer by junior Shandricka Sessom with 2:53 to go in the third quarter cut Ole Miss’ deficit to eight, but Alabama closed the quarter on an 11-2 run for a 17-point lead heading into the final period.
Ole Miss opened the fourth quarter on a 10-3 run before the Tide answered by scoring seven of the next 10 points to extend its lead back to 14 with 4:32 remaining.
The Rebels countered again, this time chipping its deficit to a five-point game with 90 seconds remaining.
The teams traded fouls and free throws for the game’s duration where Alabama went 10-for-12 from the line.
For the game, the Tide attempted 50 free throws, just six away from the program record. Thirty-two of those attempts came in the fourth quarter.
Alabama shot 49 percent (24-49) for the game, while Ole Miss went 43.1 percent (28-65) from the floor.
The Tide also outrebounded the Rebels, 42-29.
Alabama hits the road for its next matchup, traveling to Columbia, Missouri, to take on the Missouri Tigers Sunday. Tip is set for 2 p.m. on SEC Network +.