Alabama Women's Basketball to Open Exhibition Season on Saturday
11/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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GAME NOTES
TUSCALOOSA - The Crimson Tide women's basketball team will make their first appearance in game uniforms on Saturday, Nov. 5, as the squad will unofficially open its season in an exhibition game against West Alabama. The game will be played in the CAVE at Coleman Coliseum, as renovations undergo their final phases on the main arena. The game is slated to tip-off at 2 p.m.
The contest will feature the unofficial debut of Tide first-year head coach Stephany Smith, who will be on the sidelines for Alabama for the first time after eight highly successful seasons at Middle Tennessee State. Smith, who became the Tide's seventh women's basketball coach last April, carries a 153-88 (.635) mark into her first campaign at the Capstone.
Smith will be aided by the return of several experienced newcomers.
Leading that group will be junior Marverly Nettles, a guard from Birmingham. Nettles is the leading returning scorer from the 2004-05 squad that went 14-15 and barely lost to highly-ranked LSU in the SEC Tournament. Nettles averaged 11.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in her sophomore season, her first at UA after transferring from Chicago State. She was honored last week as a member of the 2005 University of Alabama Homecoming court.
Dee Merriweather will provide experience at the post for Smith and her Crimson Tide team. Merriweather had one of the best seasons in school history in relation to blocked shots, as the senior tallied 89, the fifth-best total in Tide history. Merriweather is the leading returning rebounder, having grabbed 6.8 boards per game as a junior.
In addition, several other Tide players have seen extensive time at several positions. Kate Mastin, Navonda Moore and Crystal Bellinger have played in the Alabama backcourt throughout their respective careers. Lauren Hill, Krystle Johnson and Chanel Johnson will provide depth at the post.
The contest will mark the first meeting between the two in-state schools. West Alabama plays in the Division II Gulf South Conference and earned a 14-13 record last season. Amanda Marks enters her fourth season as the coach of the Tigers.
The game will be broadcast by WVUA-TV in Tuscaloosa. The contest will be tape-delayed, and will show at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5. Gary Harris will provide play-by-play commentary for the network.
Alabama will compete in the final exhibition of the season on Friday, Nov. 11, when the Tide will host Henderson State. The 7 p.m. game will also be played in the CAVE. The Tide will open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 18, in the newly-renovated Coleman Coliseum against the University of Washington at 5:30 p.m.
