Box Score HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Sophomore Jordan Smith posted 13 points to score in double digits for the sixth consecutive game and junior Bailee Robinson poured in a game-high 19 points as the University of Alabama in Huntsville women's basketball team defeated Truett-McConnell by a score of 84-38 Monday evening at Spragins Hall.
 
With the win, the Lady Chargers improve to 5-1, equaling the program's best start since the 1997-98 season. Truett-McConnell drops its eighth straight game while falling to 1-9 on the year.
 
“I'm really proud of the fact we've jumped out to a fast start at 5-1,” head coach Roy Heintz said. “You want to have that kind of start but we have to continue to get better. We love to do things offensively but we just haven't committed right now to championship defense and rebound the way we need to. There's no doubt we're happy with the start and we're proud with our record, but we've just got to continue to work and improve.”
 
Smith, who scored 13 points on the night, has now posted double-digit points in every game this season. Dating back to last year, the Hoover, Ala., native has scored in double digits in 20 of the last 22 contests.
 
“Jordan has been consistent and when she shifted, in our second game of the year, to our primary ball-handler role, it really settled us,” Heintz said. “I would've liked to see her score a little more tonight. I don't know if she's trying to be unselfish, but tonight I wish she would've taken it to the rack and got there a little more often. Her consistency has been great, and a lot of our success has come from the fact that she's our primary ball handler.”
 
Sophomore Jasmine Hammon joined Smith and Robinson in double figures with 12 points, while freshman Juanice Newton grabbed a game-high and career-best 12 rebounds.
 
The game seemed to never be in question for the Lady Chargers led from tip-off to the final buzzer. UAH started the game by bursting out to a 15-0 advantage over the first three minutes and 43 seconds. The Lady Chargers then continued to extend its lead, heading into the locker room for halftime with a comfortable 43-20 cushion.
 
The second half was much of the same as UAH again outscored Truett-McConnell, 41-18, including a 27-9 run over the first nine minutes in the final frame. The Lady Chargers would only extend that lead with the reserves in the squad cruised to an 84-38 victory.
 
Despite the Lady Chargers getting off nearly double the shots as TMC, shooting from the field for both teams was comparable as UAH connected on 36 percent (31-of-86) while the Bears shot 30.6 percent (15-of-49). The difference maker, as it has been all year, was UAH's pressure defense as the Lady Chargers forced the Bears into 37 mistakes and scoring 43 points off the turnovers.
 
Truett-McConnell's Natalie Johnson led the Bears' with the game's only double-double, scoring 11 points and bringing down 12 rebounds.
 
Up next, UAH hosts Concordia-Selma on Dec. 15 in a non-conference tilt at Spragins Hall. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.