2nd Rd - Alabama vs. LSU

4SHOT Sports

SEC Tourney - Women's 05
2nd Rd - Alabama vs. LSU
By Larry Williams
Mar 5, 2005, 05:22 EST

2nd Round - Alabama vs. LSU
”Lady Tigers” escape rushing tide to advance!

Three-point reversal gives LSU a win over Alabama
Bi-Lo Center - Greenville, SC

Alabama's Natasha Gamble pulled up just outside the three-point line and drained this 3-pointer to tie the game at 60-60 with :05 seconds to play but the officals reviewed the tape and reversed the call.

LSU's Seimone Augustus pulls up for this jumper over Alabama's Dee Merriweather.

The No.1 ranked “Lady Tigers” from LSU had their hands full with the “Lady Crimson Tide” from Alabama, falling behind 5-2 as the inside play of Alabama's sophomore Navonda Moore and the shooting of senior Monique Bivins sparked the early lead. With 6-4 junior Dee Merriweather and 6-0 senior Natasha Gamble doing the job on the boards Alabama was able to get out on the break. Gamble made a sweet move inside to push the lead up to 7-2. LSU closed the gap making the score 7-6 when All-American Seimone Augustus knocked down a jumper. Alabama responded with a big three-pointer by Gamble making the score 10-6.

To combat Alabama’s early rebounding advantage LSU Head Coach Pokey Chatman inserted her heralded freshman rebounding machine 6-5 Sylvia Fowles. Alabama reserve Krystle Johnson entered the game and was fouled making a nice move to the hole to score, her free-throw gave the “Lady Crimson Tide” a 15-10 lead.

Alabama continued to play well with the lead slowing the pace a little working the ball around for good shot, Bivins and K. Johnson were giving LSU fits, Bivins drilled a three-pointer and Johnson scored inside to up the lead to 20-13. Fowles who is so aggressivie on the boards picked up her 2nd foul and had to take a set on the bench.

LSU Head Coach Pokey Chatman annimated along the sidelines.

Bivins continued her torrid shooting for Alabama knocking down back-to-back jumpers giving the “Lady Crimson Tide” their largest lead of the game 26-17 as the Alabama fans went wild. Augustus started heating up for the “Lady Tigers” scoring back-to-back hoops to close the gap to 26-19 with a little over 6:00 minutes left in the half. Bivins was just feeling it for the Alabama busting another three-pointer opening up a 10 point lead 29-19. LSU didn’t get to be No.1 for no reason, the “Lady Tigers” ran off 6 quick points the last 2 on a fastbreak by point guard Temeka Johnson cutting the lead to 29-25 at the half.

LSU came out in the 2nd half with a little bit more intensity, 6-7 junior Wendlyn Jones completed a three-point play to cut the lead to 29-28, the “Lady Tigers” went up 30-29 when Johnson scored on a sweet lay-up. Just when it look like LSU was about to really get going Alabama made another big play as Natasha Gamble hit a jumper then posted up in the paint and scored to put the “Lady Crimson Tide” up 33-30.

LSU's Tillie Willis from Mableton, GA led Cumberlin Christian to a state title when she was a senior in high school.

Alabama did a nice job of getting to the hole early in the 2nd half, reserve Marverly Nettles and Bivins each hit a pair of free-throws giving Alabama 38-32 lead. With 13:55 left in the game Jones picked up her 3rd personal foul for LSU. Missed scoring opportunities started to frustrate the “Lady Tigers” as Alabama opened up a 42-35 lead.

Fowles really started inflecting some damage to Alabama inside midway through the 2nd half scoring and hitting a pair of free-throws as LSU made their move. Augustus also started getting off getting fouled after scoring, her free-throw cut the lead to 54-53 as the LSU faithful starting getting jacked up. But once again Alabama was up to the task, two big-time three-pointers by Bivins and K. Johnson put the “Lady Tide” up 57-53.

With :57 seconds left to play Scholanda Houston scored on a fastbreak to give LSU a 58-57 lead. A few seconds later Augustus grabbed a big rebound off a miss free-throw by Alabama’s Bivins and was fouled with :35 seconds on the clock. Augustus hit both free-throws to give LSU a three-point lead.

Alabama's Krystle Johnson and Monique Bivins were two reason the "Lady Crimson Tide" also upset LSU.

After an Alabama timeout they got the ball to Gamble who pulled up just outside the three-point line and drained a three-pointer to tie the game at 60-60 with :05 seconds left….oh but wait the officials got together to review the shot and ruled it a two point shot….much to the dismay of all the fans in the house except those from LSU.

The “Lady Tigers” got the ball back as time ticked off the clock giving them a thrilling, hard fought come from behind 60-59 win advancing them into the SEC Championship Semi-Finals on Saturday night. The crowd on hand was very appreciative of the effort Alabama gave giving them a standing ovation as they left the court.

LSU was presented the SEC 2005 Regular Season Championship Trophy before the game. Two former Georgia H.S. All-Stars Marion Whitfield (Glenn Hills) and Ashley Thomas (Stephenson) are members of the "Lady Tigers".

Scoring Recap

LSU

Seimone Augustus scored 20 points and grabbed 6 rebounds to pace the “Lady Tigers”. Temeka Johnson finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Sylvia Fowles scored 7 points and hauled down 7 rebounds, while Florence Williams chipped in with 6 points.

Alabama

Monique Bivins led the “Lady Crimson Tide” with 20 points and 5 rebounds. Krystle Johnson added 16 points and 4 rebounds. Natasha Gamble finished with 12 points and 6 rebounds. Lateefah Joye grabbed 7 rebounds.