Alabama Women's Basketball Visits No. 20/22 Vanderbilt Sunday
1/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 31, 2009
ALABAMA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (12-9, 0-6 SEC) at No. 20/22 VANDERBILT (16-5, 5-1 SEC)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Tipoff: 2:00 p.m. (CST)
TV: None
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network
Alabama and Vanderbilt:
Alabama and Vanderbilt met less than one month ago in the SEC opener that ended up being quite a game down the stretch. At halftime, the Crimson Tide was down 47-22 and all indications pointed towards an easy W for the Commodores. Alabama was not going to let that happen. The Tide formulated a 20-6 run, one of its largest of the season, to pull within four of Vanderbilt lead. Despite a tremendous comback, Alabama was unable to get any closer and eventually lost the game 85-76. The Commodores are currently on a seven-game win streak over the Tide and own the overall advantage 24-11. Alabama's last win in the series was on Feb. 8, 2008 in Tuscaloosa where the Tide came out on top 81-68. Below is a listing of the past 10 matchups.
| Jan. 8, 2009 | L, 85-76 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
| March 2, 2008 | L, 83-54 | Nashville, Tenn. |
| Feb. 11, 2008 | L, 92-47 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
| Feb. 4, 2007 | L, 91-51 | Nashville, Tenn. |
| March 3, 2006 | L, 84-62 | N. Little Rock, Ark. |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | L, 65-53 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
| Feb. 24, 2005 | L, 64-53 | Nashville, Tenn. |
| Feb. 8, 2004 | W, 81-68 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
| Feb. 6, 2003 | L, 69-60 | Nashville, Tenn. |
| Jan. 17, 2005 | L, 69-46 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
Scouting Vanderbilt:
Last time out, Vanderbilt used an extra period to top Arkansas 72-61 at home. The Commodores outscored the Razorbacks 13-2 in overtime to win their fifth SEC contest of the season. Merideth Marsh finished as the game's leading scorer with 21 points. She went 5-of-6 from three-point range. Three additional Vanderbilt players notched double-figure points as Jessica Mooney collected 14 and Jennifer Risper and Christina Wirth added 13 apiece.
Leading Vanderbilt in three major categories is Wirth with a team-high 14.0 points per game, 37.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc and 31.3 minutes per contest. Tuomi tops the Commodores in rebounds per game with an average of 6.4, while sophomore Jence Rhoads leads the team in assists with 3.9 per contest.
Alabama and the Southeastern Conference:
The Tide's all-time record against league foes is 120-185 (.393). Alabama's last winning record in the SEC came during the 1997-98 season when the Tide went 10-4. Below is a list of how Alabama has finished each of its conference seasons.
| Year | Record | Conference Finish |
| 2008-09 | 0-6 | ---- |
| 2007-08 | 1-13 | 12 |
| 2006-07 | 0-14 | 12 |
| 2005-06 | 3-11 | 11 |
| 2004-05 | 4-10 | T9 |
| 2003-04 | 4-10 | 10 |
| 2002-03 | 3-11 | 10 |
| 2001-02 | 7-7 | T7 |
| 2000-01 | 5-9 | T8 |
| 1999-00 | 5-9 | T8 |
| 1998-99 | 7-7 | T5 |
| 1997-98 | 10-4 | T2 |
| 1996-97 | 10-2 | 2 |
| 1995-96 | 7-4 | T3 |
| 1994-95 | 7-4 | T4 |
| 1993-94 | 7-4 | T4 |
| 1992-93 | 6-5 | T4 |
| 1991-92 | 7-4 | 3 |
| 1990-91 | 3-6 | T8 |
| 1989-90 | 4-5 | T6 |
| 1988-89 | 1-8 | T9 |
| 1987-88 | 5-4 | T4 |
| 1986-87 | 2-7 | T8 |
| 1985-86 | 3-6 | 8 |
| 1984-85 | 3-5 | 4 (West) |
| 1983-84 | 5-3 | T2 (West) |
| 1982-83 | 2-6 | 4 (West) |
| 1981-82 | 4-3 | NA |
| 1980-81 | 4-3 | NA |
| 1979-80 | 3-5 | NA |
Who to Watch:
Sophomore Varisia Raffington leads the team in scoring in SEC contests with an average of 13.0 points per game. She is shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and 35.0 percent from three-point range. Raffington has collected 4.7 rebounds per contest and dished out 1.5 assists per game. At Auburn, she buried a career-high 19 points connecting on 8-of-14 attempts.
Last Time Out:
Alabama fell in heartbreaking fashion to the Georgia Lady Bulldogs, 63-61, at Coleman Coliseum Sunday afternoon. The Crimson Tide mounted a furious comeback with a 12-0 run over a 1:11 span to tie the game at 61-61 with 0:48 left. However, Georgia's Porsha Phillips knocked down a jumper in the lane with 0:24 remaining to give the Lady Bulldogs the lead, and Alabama could not score on its final possession allowing Georgia to escape with the victory. Three Alabama players scored in double figures led by freshman Ericka Russell who knocked down three shots from beyond the arc and a perfect 4-4 from the foul line to finish with 17 points. Sophomore Tierney Jenkins posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds to go along with a game-high three steals. For the game, Alabama shot 34 percent from the field compared to 51 percent for Georgia. The Tide kept things close by converting a perfect 10-10 from the free throw line and forcing the Lady Bulldogs into 25 turnovers that led to 26 Alabama points. Georgia held a 39-32 rebounding advantage, but the Tide grabbed 13 offensive boards compared to nine for the Bulldogs.
Alabama Captures 600th win:
Alabama won its 600th victory in program history on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008 when it beat Ball State in the championship game of the Crimson Tide Holiday Classic 81-75 in Coleman Coliseum. The Tide's overall record currently stands at 601-421 for an overall winning percentage of 58.8.
The Tide is Turning:
After winning just eight games last season, the Tide has collected 12 victories in 21 attempts this season. With its 12 wins, Alabama is tied for seventh for best turnaround from last season to this season. Below are the top turnaround teams with three or more wins higher than last season thus far.
| Institution | Increase in Wins | 2007-08 Wins to 2008-09 Wins |
| T1. Fordham | 7 | 0 to 7 |
| T1. Central Connecticut | 7 | 4 to 11 |
| T1. Hofstra | 7 | 5 to 12 |
| T4. Central Michigan | 5 | 6 to 11 |
| T4. Mercer | 5 | 4 to 9 |
| T4. Kent State | 5 | 9 to 14 |
| T7. Alabama | 4 | 8 to 12 |
| T7. Austin Peay | 4 | 6 to 10 |
| T7. Eastern Washington | 4 | 4 to 8 |
| T7. Sam Houston State | 4 | 1 to 5 |
| T7. USC Upstate | 4 | 5 to 9 |
| T7. Cal State Northridge | 4 | 1 to 5 |
| T13. Idaho | 3 | 4 to 7 |
| T13. UMBC | 3 | 9 to 12 |
| T13. Navy | 3 | 7 to 10 |
| T 13. Colorado State | 3 | 4 to 7 |
| T13. Grambling State | 3 | 2 to 5 |
| T13. Washington State | 3 | 5 to 8 |
| T13. Colgate | 3 | 1 to 4 |
Keep the Ws Coming:
With its win against Southeastern Louisiana on Jan. 3, the Tide got off to its best start since the 2000-2001 season when it went 12-2. In addition, Alabama won its last six games in a row prior to the start of conference play. The last time the Tide won five games or more in a row was between Nov. 22, 2002 to Dec. 7, 2002 when Alabama captured six consecutive victories.
Rejected:
Alabama is averaging 4.1 blocks per game ranking it eighth in the SEC and 82nd nationally. The Tide's season-high came against Austin Peay on Dec. 20 when Alabama recorded 10 rejections. All but one player on the team has tallied at least a single block with junior Courtney Strauthers leading the way with 18.
Butler and Russell from Downtown:
Freshman Ericka Russell leads Alabama in three-pointers this season with 37. She is 28.5 percent from beyond the arc thus far hitting 37 of 130 attempts. Right behind Russell is sophomore Alyson Butler with 35 threes. Butler has made 29.7 percent of her shots from three-point range having connected on 35 of 118 attempts. Both have taken the majority of their shots from three-point range with Russell shooting 63.4 percent of her shots from outside the line and Butler taking 76.1 percent of her attempts from beyond the arc.
Alabama from Beyond the Arc:
The Tide has hit a three-point shot in 46 consecutive games. The last time Alabama went an entire contest without making a three was Nov. 24, 2007 against Washington State. The Tide went 0-3 for the game.
Equal Opportunity Scorers:
In Alabama's 21 games, six different players have led the Tide in scoring. Sophomore Tierney Jenkins has been Alabama's leading scorer eight times, while freshman Ericka Russell has topped the Tide six times. Sophomores Alyson Butler and Varisia Raffington have led the way twice each. Junior Dedrea Magee, sophomore Katie Hancock and freshman Kayla Robinson have each led in point production once.
Strauthers Hitting Better than .500 for Career:
Junior Courtney Strauthers is currently averaging 51.9 percent from the floor for her career. She finished her freshman season at 51.3 percent followed by her sophomore year at 56.8 percent. She is 51-109 on the season thus far for a 46.8 clip.
Variety is the Spice of Life:
A total of 14 players have seen court time in Alabama's games this season. Ten of those 14 players are averaging 10 minutes or more. Junior Dedrea Magee leads the way with 25.3 minutes an outing.
`Bama on the Boards:
The Tide has been stellar on the boards out-rebounding its opponents by an average of 3.8 per game while collecting a total of 43.7 per contest. Alabama pulled down 50 rebounds or more in eight games this season, including a high of 60 against Sam Houston State on Dec. 7.
I'll Take my Bench over your Bench:
Alabama's bench scoring has accounted for an average of 29.7 points per game this season and 624 points overall. That is nearly half of the Tide's total point output thus far. Below is a list of how many points the bench has produced in each game.
| Nov. 14, 2008 | vs. Centenary | 28 points |
| Nov. 18, 2008 | vs. Samford | 24 points |
| Nov. 22, 2008 | at Hampton | 35 points |
| Nov. 25, 2008 | vs. Alabama State | 52 points |
| Nov. 28, 2008 | vs. Louisville | 43 points |
| Nov. 29, 2008 | vs. Northern Iowa | 38 points |
| Dec. 3, 2008 | vs. UCF | 36 points |
| Dec. 7, 2008 | vs. Sam Houston State | 46 points |
| Dec. 14, 2008 | at MTSU | 37 points |
| Dec. 17, 2008 | vs. Florida A&M | 33 points |
| Dec. 20, 2008 | vs. Austin Peay | 28 points |
| Dec. 22, 2008 | vs. Alabama A&M | 38 points |
| Dec. 29, 2008 | vs. Belmont | 28 points |
| Dec. 30, 2008 | vs. Ball State | 52 points |
| Jan. 3, 2009 | at Southeastern Louisiana | 29 points |
| Jan. 8, 2009 | vs. Vanderbilt | 23 points |
| Jan. 11, 2009 | at LSU | 3 points |
| Jan. 15, 2009 | vs. Kentucky | 15 points |
| Jan. 18, 2009 | at Ole Miss | 15 points |
| Jan. 22, 2009 | at Auburn | 12 points |
| Jan. 25, 2009 | vs. Georgia | 9 points |
Alabama Places Two on Crimson Tide Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team:
Junior Dedrea Magee and sophomore Tierney Jenkins were both voted to the Crimson Tide Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team selected by participating coaches. Magee took home Tournament MVP honors after scoring 27 points and adding 12 rebounds and five assists over the two games. For the tournament, Jenkins notched 31 points, including a season-best 23 in the championship game, as well as 17 rebounds and seven steals.
Lucky Number 13:
Junior Courtney Strauthers collected a career-high 13 points in Alabama's win over UCF on Dec. 3. That same night, sophomore Daleisha Carn pulled down a career-best 13 rebounds. In the Tide's next game against Sam Houston State, Carn dished out a career-high 13 assists. Carn then collected a season-high 13 points at Middle Tennessee State on Dec. 14.
Ericka Russell Voted to the Nugget Classic All-Tournament Team:
Alabama freshman Ericka Russell was one of six players named to the Nugget Classic All-Tournament Team. The squad was voted on by the four participating coaches. She finished the two-game Classic with 24 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two assists.
Tide Welcomes Six Newcomers:
A total of six new players will dawn the crimson and white this season for the women's basketball team. Carmen McCoy, Kayla Robinson, Ericka Russell and Candace Sykes all signed on nearly one year ago, while Danielle Hicks and Candiss Willingham were added as walk-ons.
Fresh Faces on the Sidelines:
Wendell Hudson returns to the sidelines after spending the last six years in administration to head up the Alabama women's basketball team. Hudson, who possesses 26 years of basketball coaching experience, is no stranger to Alabama as he was the first African-American scholarship athlete at the Capstone while playing under C.M. Newton. Joining him will be former Tide standouts Joni Crenshaw and Stacey Franklin along with Ty Evans, who enters his second season as a member of the Alabama staff.
Next up:
Alabama hosts Florida on Thursday, Feb. 5. Tipoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. (CST).
