Alabama Women's Hoops Cruises to Another Home Win
12/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA ?? Despite some sluggish play by the University of Alabama women’s basketball team, the results were the same in tonight’s 84-55 victory over McNeese State. It was another home game and another home win for Alabama, who captured its sixth-straight in Coleman Coliseum, its fourth consecutive win overall and moved to 7-2 in 2006-07.
“Like we’ve said all season long, we are just trying to find ways to win games,” said Tide head coach Stephany Smith. “I thought we played well defensively in spurts tonight, but there were times when we were sloppy and our body language wasn’t what I wanted it to be. But I thought we had some players come off the bench and give us a lift.”
All 12 players on the Alabama roster got into the game, and 11 of them scored, as the Tide once again opened up a solid lead early with some tight defense. McNeese State shot 34.8 percent from the field in the opening frame and scored 24 points to give the Tide a 40-24 lead at the break.
Alabama shot 59.3 percent from the field on the offensive end in the first half and capitalized on the continued strong shooting of senior Kate Mastin. Mastin, who entered the game tied for third all-time in career three-point shooting at the Capstone, knocked down all four of her three-point attempts in the first half en route to 14 points in the first 20 minutes.
The Boaz native, who tied the school record with eight treys in a game earlier this season, knocked down one more in the second half on her way to a game-high 16 points.
Her hot shooting paved the way for another Tide long-range threat to get some open looks in the second half. True freshman Alyson Butler followed Mastin’s lead and drained four three-pointers in the final frame to finish with a career-high 14 points and four assists on the night.
Talisha Chandler was another true freshmen that had career numbers for the Tide on the offensive end. The native of Clover, S.C., scored 12 points, a career best, to go with five rebounds and three assists.
“I thought we had several players off the bench, Alyson and Talisha included, who did a nice job for us,” said Smith. “I thought it was a good chance for us to give some of those players some confidence and they responded.”
Despite struggling with turnovers for portions of the win, the Tide finished with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio for the second time in the last three games, with 24 assists and 23 turnovers. Alabama also outrebounded the Cowgirls, 34-24.
The game marked the end of a three-game home stretch for the Tide, who will not play in Coleman Coliseum again until Dec. 18. Alabama’s next outing is on the road in New Orleans on Saturday, Dec. 9, where the Tide faces Tulane in a 2 p.m. contest.
