UWA women fall to Alabama in exhibition

rp_primary_qTUSCALOOSA — Shafontaye Myers scored 19 points and Nikki Hegstetter 12 to lead Alabama to a 73-31 victory in a women’s college basketball exhibition game at Foster Auditorium Monday.

Alabama forced 36 Tiger turnovers and turned them into 42 points while coasting to the victory. The Tide also limited UWA to just 27 percent (13-of-47) from the floor. Alabama shot 42 percent (27-of-64) from the field.

Alabama built a 41-13 lead by halftime, forcing 24 West Alabama turnovers in the first 20 minutes. The Tigers were playing without point guard Kelcia Bufkin who is nursing a leg injury.

Jada Williams scored nine first-half points to lead West Alabama scoring. Jasmine Hampton chipped in six points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds for the Tigers, who outrebounded Alabama 41-39. Daisha Simmons collected seven rebounds to lead Alabama.

Alabama went to the free throw line 31 times in the game, making 17. West Alabama made its only free throw attempt of the game.

The Tigers continue in exhibition play Friday at Southern Mississippi on Friday. Tipoff is 11 a.m.