Nov. 22, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Jamilah Johns scored a game-high 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as Alabama rolled by Samford, 68-46, Friday night in women's college basketball action at Seibert Hall. The Crimson Tide (1-0) defeated the Bulldogs (0-1) for the sixth consecutive time.
"I thought we played well enough defensively to win," first-year head coach Mike Morris said. "I was really pleased with our defensive effort. Offensively, we were not good. If we can give the same effort defensively every game, we have a chance to be a good team. Offensively, we need to find a rhythm."
Giovanni Price led the Bulldogs with 12 points. Noot Pittman pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.
Alabama broke open a 29-16 halftime lead with an 11-4 run at the start of the second half. Natasha Gamble hit a jumper with 12:59 left to give the Crimson Tide a 40-20 advantage.
The Bulldogs answered with a 6-0 run to pull within 40-26 with 11:24 left in the game, but the Crimson Tide outscored Samford, 28-20, down the stretch to make for the final score.
Most of the Bulldogs' scoring came from the free-throw line. Samford made 21-of-29 free throws in the game.
Alabama took an early 6-1 lead with 16:54 remaining in the first half. The Bulldogs went on a 7-0 run to take its only lead of the game. Lindsey Harris hit a three-pointer to give the Bulldogs an 8-6 lead with 15:03 left before halftime. Alabama regained the lead on a three-pointer by Gamble with 11:49 on the clock.
The Crimson Tide shot 36 percent from the field and 52 percent from behind the three-point line. Samford shot a woeful 24 percent from the field, but 72 percent from the free-throw line.
Gamble finished the game with nine points and nine rebounds. Che' Walker added nine points for the Bulldogs while Morgan Vickery chipped in eight points.
Samford hits the road Monday night to face Chattanooga in Tennessee at 7 p.m. Alabama will host Birmingham-Southern next Tuesday.
