Throwback Tuesdays: Dec. 7, 1991
12/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 8, 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 fifth installment of Throwback Tuesday.
On Dec. 7, 1991, the Alabama Crimson Tide squared off against the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders in the championship game of the MTSU Garden Plaza Classic in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Alabama defeated Cincinnati 100-80 the day before, which was already the third game of the season in which the Tide broke the century mark. Alabama would score triple-digits against the Blue Raiders on this day as well, taking the title with a commanding 101-69 victory.
Alabama was led by Linda Burgess, who finished the game with a double-double thanks to 19 points and 13 rebounds. Burgess also scored 28 points and collected 11 rebounds against the Bearcats the day before, earning MVP honors of the tournament. The Tide connected on 47.6 percent of its shots (40-84), including an impressive 57.9 percent from three-point range (11-19). Alabama was also sharp from the free throw line, hitting 10-of-13 foul shots. Middle Tennessee also shot a solid 42.6 percent from the floor, but only connected on 1-of-5 from long-distance. The Blue Raiders also failed to capitalize from the charity stripe, only sinking 10 of their 23 free throws. Each team was careless with the basketball at times, finishing the game with a negative assist-to-turnover ratio. However, the Tide's defense was more aggressive, coming up with 13 steals on the day compared to only four for Middle Tennessee.
The 1991-92 season was the third for head coach Rick Moody, and the first in which he led his team to the NCAA Tournament. It was also the first season Moody was able to collect at least 20 wins, as the team finished with a 23-7 overall record. Alabama earned home-court advantage for the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, claiming a 100-87 victory over Tennessee Tech. It was the tenth time that season that the Tide offense was able to score at least 100 points in a game. Alabama traveled to Bowling Green, Ky. to face Western Kentucky in the Second Round. The No. 15 Hilltoppers were too much for the Tide to handle, as Western Kentucky ended Alabama's season with a 30-point victory, 98-68.
