Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball lost its seventh consecutive game on Thursday night, this time to the Alabama Crimson Tide by a score of 84-65.

After a fast-paced first quarter, the Commodores led 20-18 despite being outrebounded 12 to five. Both teams shot at least 50 percent from the field.

The second quarter was a different story, however, as the Crimson Tide jumped out on a 10-2 run to pull ahead by six thanks in part to several easy misses by Vanderbilt at the basket. A three-point play by Autumn Newby closed the gap to three and appeared to reignite the Commodores, but they simply could not stop the Alabama guards from penetrating for easy lay-ups. Alabama finished the half on a 14-2 run and leading 42-27.

Cierra Walker, the team’s second-leading scorer, was held scoreless through the first half and Vanderbilt’s field goal percentage dropped all the way down to 38.5 percent.

As has been true all season, Vanderbilt did not go away without a fight. Mariella Fasoula opened the half with a lay-up and LeaLea Carter and Walker each hit a pair of free throws to bring the deficit down to single digits. Unfortunately for the Commodores, Fasoula, the team’s leading scorer this season, picked up her third foul and had to go to the bench, allowing Alabama to push the lead to 17.

Fasoula returned to the game and the Commodores hit a trio of three-pointers to pull back within twelve. The run was short-lived, however, as Fasoula picked up her fourth foul and the Crimson Tide got some easy buckets off of Vanderbilt’s newly implemented full-court pressure. Alabama ended the third quarter leading 63-47.

“The foul trouble [of Fasoula] really hurt,” said White. “They just did a really good job of answering our runs.”

The fourth quarter was even worse for Vanderbilt as Alabama continued to score with ease and eventually won the game 84-65. This was the second most points the Commodores have given up this season. Alabama also outrebounded the Commodores 37-21.

“I felt like our ability to defend penetration wasn’t very good consistently,” said White. “And they shot the lights out.”

The Commodores fall to 1-12 in conference play and 6-20 overall.

The road does not get any easier for the Commodores as they travel to Starkville on Sunday, February 24 for a meeting with sixth-ranked Mississippi State.