Throwback Tuesdays: Dec. 3, 1994
12/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 1, 2009
Each Tuesday throughout the course of the season, Rolltide.com will feature highlights from a moment in Alabama women's basketball history that happened during that week. This is the fourth installment of Throwback Tuesday.
On Dec. 3, 1994, the Alabama Crimson Tide, ranked No. 6 in the nation, faced off against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the title game of the UCI/Newport Marriott Classic. Alabama defeated Colorado State the day before by a score of 74-62, while Notre Dame was coming off a win over host UC-Irvine. The Tide lived up to its preseason top ten ranking, defeating the Irish 105-87. It was one of five games that season in which Alabama would break the century mark in points scored.
Alabama was led by Niesa Johnson, who earned MVP of the tournament as she poured in 47 points in two games, including 27 against Notre Dame. Johnson was also named the MVP of the Tide's first tournament of the year, the UA/Sheraton Capstone Inn Classic, which Alabama hosted. Four other Tide players tossed in at least 10 points on the day, as the Irish defense could not stop Alabama's balanced offensive attack. Alabama connected on 47.4 percent of its shots, including an impressive 11-26 (42.3 percent) from beyond the arc. The Tide was also tremendous from the line, hitting 22-28. The Irish actually kept up with Alabama in shooting, sinking a solid 47.6 percent of their field goals. However, the Tide's defense came up with some key stops, recording 12 steals and holding Notre Dame to an assist to turnover ratio of 12-25.
Alabama finished the 1994-95 season with a record of 22-9, reaching the Sweet Sixteen for the second straight year under head coach Rick Moody. The Tide won the first eight games of the season before suffering a 79-76 loss to San Diego State as part of the St. Joseph's Redman Christmas Invitational.
Alabama was selected as one of the host sites for the NCAA East Subregional, where the Tide defeated Mt. St. Mary's 82-55 in the opening round. Alabama would then face the Duke Blue Devils in the Second Round, a game that turned out to be an instant classic. The Tide finally pulled out the victory 121-120 in four overtimes in what most consider to be the greatest women's basketball game to ever take place in Coleman Coliseum
