The Alabama women’s basketball team lost its tenth straight Southeastern Conference game of the season Sunday, as the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Tide at home, 81-66. Alabama was able to keep it a close game in the first half and even managed to lead at one point. The Tide was able to make numerous big plays to keep them in the game, including a buzzer beater off an inbound pass at the half by junior Meghan Perkins. But despite Alabama’s level of play, Alabama entered the half down 31-36. The Tide was out-rebounded 22-24 on the half and only shot 35 percent, while holding Georgia to 37 percent. Alabama had eight turnovers to Georgia’s six. Perkins led Alabama in scoring with 10 at the half. Alabama head coach Wendell Hudson spoke to the performance and effort put forth by his team. “I don’t know that we played any harder,” Hudson said. “I thought that we made some shots. I think that’s the big key. In the first half…especially towards the end, we made some shots and kept the game kind of close. Second half, we had those shots, and had some wide-open shots. But I think effort-wise, we played pretty good for the whole entire game.” Perkins echoed her coach’s thoughts on her team’s performance. “We had a slow start to the second half,” Perkins said. “But eventually, we picked our intensity level up and made a couple good defensive stops, but we have to capitalize. We can’t start out slow.”

Despite the play at the end of the first half, Alabama was unable to carry that momentum into the rest of the game. Georgia started imposing its will on the Tide, making a quick four points less than a minute into the second half. The Bulldogs were able to score early and often and won the rebound battle, 46-41. Alabama’s level of play also dropped considerably in the second half. Alabama seemed rushed to make plays, made unforced turnovers and took shots where there were none. The Tide was unable to create the plays that kept the game close in the first half, and once Georgia took a double-digit lead with 15 minutes remaining, the game was essentially over.

Alabama was led in scoring by Perkins and sophomore Shafontaye Myers with 16 points apiece. They shot 38 percent from the court. “I think, eventually, in basketball, you have to make shots,” Hudson said. “And that’s what we’re not able to do right now.” Alabama’s next game will be Thursday at Ole Miss.