Crimson Tide Women?s Basketball to Host Exhibition Finale Sunday
11/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA ?? The University of Alabama women’s basketball team hosts its second and final exhibition game of the 2006-07 season on Sunday, Nov. 5, with a contest against Delta State. The Tide opened its preseason on Oct. 31 with an 81-50 win over instate rival West Alabama. The game with Delta State is set for 2 p.m. in Coleman Coliseum.
“In the early days of women’s basketball, Delta State was one of the most successful, solidified programs in the country,” Smith said. “We expect them to be a very athletic, explosive group of players who are coming into this game trying to win. I think that this game will be a very good challenge for our team.”
The matchup between the Tide and the Lady Statesmen marks the second opponent from the Division II Gulf South Conference for Alabama this season. The Tide faces its fourth GSC team in two years and has now squared off with a team from that conference in all four of the exhibition games under head coach Stephany Smith.
Against West Alabama on Tuesday night, the Tide ripped the nets, shooting 60.7 percent from the field and knocking down 10 three-pointers on the night. Alabama held the Tigers to just 35.2 percent and earned a 17-rebound advantage on the boards in the game.
Kate Mastin drained five of her seven three-point attempts en route to a game-high 22 points to lead the Tide. Navonda Moore scored 15 and true freshman Alyson Butler had 13 on the strength of four three-pointers. Classmate Nikki Davis had seven assists and three turnovers, while Talisha Chandler scored eight points to go with six assists, four blocks, five steals and just one turnover.
Delta State, ranked in the Division II top-10 preseason polls, comes into the season after a successful 30-3 campaign in 2005-06 that saw them reach the NCAA Regional Final in the Division II women’s tournament. The Lady Statesmen held opponents to just 46.3 points per game last season, with only two foes scoring more than 60 points. They return two of their top-three scorers from that roster this season.
Admission to the Alabama-Delta State game is free. The Kids Zone will be set up on the west side of the concourse for attending youth.
The Crimson Tide opens its regular season on Friday, Nov. 10, in Tuscaloosa with a 7 p.m. game against instate rival Samford.
