Tide takes on talented Lady Techsters

TUSCALOOSA | Coming off of a four-game road trip, the University of Alabama women’s basketball team returns to Coleman Coliseum tonight at 6 against Louisiana Tech in the first game of a two-game homestand.

The Tide is winners of two of its last three games — defeating Washington State 66-37 and Tennessee Tech 53-47 — but is still searching for its first home win of the season.

Alabama has continued to thrive defensively and has allowed more than 60 points just twice all season. The Tide held Tennessee Tech to just 12 first-half points and forced 25 turnovers for the game.

Tide opponents are shooting approximately 35 percent from the field and 29 percent from 3-point range. They are also outrebounding opponents by more than 10 — averaging 42 per game.

Coach Stephany Smith said she has noticed the team’s improvement on defense.

“I’m comfortable progressing on the defensive side of the ball,” Smith said. “We are by no means great at it, but we’re at least playing it.

“So we’ve added several things to our defensive package.”

Alabama is led in scoring by a pair of freshmen. Tierney Jenkins, a 6-foot forward, is leading the team with 11.6 points a game. She is averaging 22 minutes and is shooting 50 percent from the field.

Daleisha Carn is also scoring in double figures with 10.6 points a game. The 6-foot Jacksonville Fla., native has started five of the Tide’s seven games and is shooting 47 percent from the field.

The Tide will have its hands full against Louisiana Tech (3-2), a team that has dealt Alabama some tough defeats over the years.

Louisiana Tech has knocked the Tide out of the NCAA Tournament twice. In 1994 Alabama lost to Louisiana Tech 99-96 in the Final Four after having defeated the Lady Techsters 99-77 earlier in the season for its only win in the series. The Tide is 1-10 all-time against Louisiana Tech, including last year’s 66-57 defeat in Ruston, La.

Smith said Louisiana Tech presents challenges in every aspect of the game.

“They are unbelievably athletic,” she said. “They are by far the most athletic team that we have faced.

“They are very powerful around the basket. They are explosive in transition and off the dribble, and they can knock down the outside shot. They’re pretty solid inside out, and they can be bothersome defensively.

“I’m sitting here naming about ten things, so they’re a pretty good basketball team.”

The Lady Techsters have three players scoring in double figures with JoKeirra Sneed netting 14.8 points a game, Whitney Jones scoring 12.8 points and Shanavia Dowdell averaging 11.2.

Louisiana Tech comes in averaging 78.4 points a game, while the Tide is scoring 52.4

Alabama will be without freshmen Caitlin Hollifield, who has missed the team’s previous three games with a stress fracture in her foot. She joins guards Alyson Butler and Katie Hancock as players whom are unavailable due to injury.