Alabama Runs Past West Alabama 80-53
10/31/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? The Alabama women's basketball team opened its exhibition slate with an 80-53 victory over in-state rival West Alabama Wednesday night from Coleman Coliseum. The Tide got double-digit performances from four different players to earn the exhibition win against the Tigers.
"It's good to get the season started. We've gone through a lot of adversity in practice to this point just losing players to injuries," head coach Stephany Smith said. "It was good to get the first game jitters out, with our eight underclassmen, four of whom playing their first collegiate basketball game. It feels good to get beyond this one."
Of the eight underclassmen, four poured in double-digit scoring performances, while two added double-doubles. In her first collegiate game, Tierney Jenkins scored 18 points and nearly missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Jenkins poured in her 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting in just 22 minutes of action.
Fellow Freshman Daleisha Carn tallied 10 points in her first game in a Crimson Tide uniform. The newcomer was 4-for-8 from the floor and added three blocks and four boards in 26 minutes.
The sophomore tandem of Talisha Chandler and Dedrea Magee combined to pace the Tide. The second-year duo both tallied double-doubles. Chandler tied for game-high honors with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting and grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds.
Magee used her speed to elude the Tiger defense to tally 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Magee, a 5-7 guard recorded 10 rebounds, nine on the defensive end.
"I think it all starts in practice," Chandler said. "I think it's just being aggressive on both ends. A lot of that comes from my teammates. It's just being aggressive and going after it hard."
As a team, the Tide shot 48 percent (31-for-65) from the floor and 63 percent (5-for-8) from beyond the arc. UA held UWA to just 25 percent shooting (15for-59) and an 18 percent (4-for-22) clip from three.
Ashton Washington led the Tigers with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting. Danielle Baldwin added 11 on 4-of-10 shooting for UWA.
After a 38-27 lead at the half, the Tide buckled down on both ends and started firing on all cylinders. Alabama scored 42 points in the second frame and held the Tigers to just three buckets in the last 12 minutes of the contest.
Alabama will close out its exhibition slate against Mississippi College. The two teams will square off on Sunday, November 4 at 3:30 p.m. in Coleman Coliseum.
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