Women's Basketball Holds First Official Practice of 2009
10/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 16, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The women's basketball team tipped off its 2009-10 season with a two-hour practice on Friday. The Crimson Tide begins its exhibition slate in just 19 days with a 5:30 p.m. (CST) contest against North Alabama on Nov. 4 before its regular-season debut on Nov. 13 against Tennessee Tech.
"For this being the first day of practice, I thought our intensity was as good as it could get," said head coach Wendell Hudson, who enters his second season at the helm. "Our energy level was great which helped to make for a good practice."
Alabama returns all five of its starters from a season ago in addition to five letterwinners from the 2008-09 team. Among the returnees is 2009 SEC All-Freshman Team selection Ericka Russell. The Tide also welcomes five newcomers to the squad with a junior college transfer, redshirt freshman and a trio of true freshmen.
Much of the first day was spent on the defensive end of the court, which is something Hudson wants the team to thrive in.
"We really want to try to make our defense our trademark," explained Hudson. "Most of what we did in the gym today was to help our team on that side of the ball. We're going to place a lot of emphasis on defense this season."
Alabama will play in a pair of exhibition games at home prior to its season opener at the Islander Tip-Off Tournament in Corpus Christi, Texas. The Tide's home opener will be Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. (CST) against Jackson State. Season tickets are currently on sale for $40 for the general public and $25 for University of Alabama faculty and staff. Single-game tickets will go on sale Oct. 26 at the cost of $5 for adults and $3 for youth 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling the Alabama Ticket Office at 1-877-TIDETIX (843-3849).
