“You have to be able to turn the page, win or lose, and be ready to go the next day and continue to improve,” coach Kristy Curry said. “I don’t think this had anything to do with anybody other than us.”
The game started slowly. Alabama had a 6-4 lead but then went on a scoreless streak that lasted almost 10 minutes. Alabama missed nine shots in a row until sophomore Ashley Williams sank a jump shot to cut into Arkansas’ lead 13-8. Arkansas held a 24-16 lead at halftime. Both teams shot 30 percent at the half.
“At some point you can’t make plays for them,” Curry said. “They have to step up and make plays. I thought at all five spots today to start the game that Arkansas was better at all five spots.”
Alabama only had one player score in double figures. Redshirt freshman Karyla Middlebrook finished with 11 points on 4-9 shooting. Alabama shot 32 percent for the game and had 19 turnovers. Arkansas capitalized on the mistakes and converted 17 points off turnovers.
“A lot of those [turnovers] are by our post players which is puzzling,” Curry said. “We can’t afford six turnovers by our leading scorer [Ashley Williams], and that has been consistent.”
Alabama’s record dropped to 12-12. The Crimson Tide is now 1-8 in the SEC. Next Alabama will play LSU next Sunday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
“We can’t think about the losses,” Middlebrook said. “We have to focus on the next game, and we have to believe that we can win each game that we have left on our schedule.”
