Tide women hope to recapture momentum

TUSCALOOSA | Coming off of a lackluster performance in which they lost to East Tennessee State, the University of Alabama women’s basketball team plays their final non-conference game today against Southeastern Louisiana.

The Crimson Tide (6-8) will host the Lady Lions (6-6) today at 2 in Coleman Coliseum and will try to get back on the winning track before heading into SEC play. Alabama plays host to South Carolina on Thursday.

“As we have our last tune up before SEC play begins I believe it’s important for us to continue to evolve in our roles for our team to be successful,” coach Stephany Smith said. “Most importantly we need to trust in one another and work relentlessly for one another.”

Smith called out her team in the aftermath of the 73-62 loss to East Tennessee State saying their effort was “lethargic.”

In the 11-point loss the Crimson Tide was out-rebounded for the first time all season, including giving up 25 offensive rebounds to the Lady Bucs.

Smith said there were times during the game when East Tennessee State beat them down the floor and got up two shots before Crimson Tide defenders could recover. She said to be competitive in conference play the team would have to be more aggressive.

For the season Alabama has been outscored 796-778 but has held opponents to just 35 percent shooting. The Crimson Tide defense is allowing just 56.9 points per game, but the offense is only scoring 55.6.

A strength to this point in the season is Alabama’s ability to rebound the basketball. They have out-rebounded their opponents 621-489. Talisha Chandler is averaging 9.3 rebounds and freshman forward Tierney Jenkins has averaged 8.1.

Jenkins leads the team in scoring with 13.6 points per game and has had to pick up the slack when the Tide lost fellow freshman Daleisha Carn to a torn anterior cruciate ligament earlier in the season. In Carn’s absence Jenkins has averaged 20.5 points.

Carn’s injury had the most effect on the Alabama backcourt, which was already without guards Alyson Butler and Katie Hancock. Both players were lost due to injury prior to the season beginning.

Without Carn’s ability to handle the basketball, Alabama has relied on sophomore Dedrea Magee and junior Camilla Blands to bring the ball up the floor. Both Magee and Blands have been relied on to often play more than 30 minutes a game.

Southeastern Louisiana comes in off a 73-67 loss to New Orleans. The Lady Lions’ leading scorer is 6-foot junior forward Kristy Carlin, who is averaging 13.7 points and comes off the bench.

Senior guard Brooke Necaise averages 10.6 points.

Alabama will play South Carolina on Thursday at 6 p.m. before traveling to Gainesville to play Florida on Jan. 13.