Women's Basketball Travels to South Carolina
2/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2009
ALABAMA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (12-13, 0-10 SEC) at SOUTH CAROLINA (9-14, 1-9 SEC)
Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009 (Colonial Life Arena)
Tipoff: 2:00 p.m. (CST)
TV: None
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network
Alabama and South Carolina:
The series between Alabama and South Carolina dates back to the 1979 season with the first meeting going to the Gamecocks 80-62 in Columbia. Since then, the Crimson Tide has jumped out to take an overall lead winning 15 games to South Carolina's 10. The last contest between the two programs happens to be Alabama last conference win that took place on Jan. 10, 2008. The Tide came out on top 65-54 in Tuscaloosa after having suffered a 60-point defeat (95-35) one year earlier in Columbia. The Gamecocks have won three of the last four meetings. Alabama's last win on the road to South Carolina came on Feb. 17, 2000. Below is a comparison of the past 10 games.
| Jan. 10, 2008 | W, 65-54 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
| Jan. 14, 2007 | L, 95-35 | Columbia, S.C. |
| Jan. 22, 2006 | L, 67-48 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
| Feb. 20, 2005 | L, 66-57 | Columbia, S.C. |
| Jan. 20, 2005 | W, 75-62 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
| Feb. 12, 2004 | L, 77-51 | Columbia, S.C. |
| Jan. 11, 2004 | W, 74-71 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
| Feb. 9, 2003 | L, 48-34 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
| Feb. 14, 2002 | L, 69-54 | Columbia, S.C. |
| Jan. 14, 2001 | L, 82-67 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
Scouting South Carolina:
South Carolina, like Alabama, finds itself in a rebuilding stage with the entrance of new head coach Dawn Staley. The Gamecocks currently sit in the cellar with the Tide in the SEC race with a 1-9 conference record and 9-14 overall standing. South Carolina's league win came against Ole Miss on the road 76-67. Last time out the Gamecocks dropped a 58-54 decision to Arkansas.
South Carolina was led on offense by senior Brionna Dickerson, who averaged 13.4 points per game in a team-high 33.3 minutes per contest before suffering a right knee injury against Vanderbilt on Jan. 25. The Gamecocks next highest in points is freshman Lakeisha Sutton with 11.0 points per game. Sutton also leads the team in three-point percentage (.483) and steals (1.3). Senior Demetress Adams, who led South Carolina in three major categories, was sidelined for the season after having right knee surgery on Feb. 4.
Alabama and the Southeastern Conference:
The Tide's all-time record against league foes is 120-189 (.388). 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 | 0-10 | ---- |
| 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 has had a stellar conference season thus far averaging 15.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. She's shooting 50.4 percent from the floor in addition to 47.6 percent from three-point range. Raffington's best offensive contest came at Vanderbilt when she poured in a career-high 27 points. She was 7-of-8 from beyond the arc which clearly surpassed her previous high of just two three-pointers.
Last Time Out:
Alabama fell to Tennessee, 80-61 Thursday night at Thompson-Boling Arena. Junior Dedrea Magee led all scorers with a career-high 21 points and eight boards. Sophomore Varisia Raffington also led Alabama offensively with 19 points, in addition to pulling down eight boards and dishing out three assists. Tennessee was led by Alex Fuller with 18 points. The Tide went into the break trailing by eleven, 41-30. Coming out of the break, Alabama and Tennessee traded baskets to begin the second half. After Raffington connected from behind the arc to make the score 48-37, the Lady Vols went on a 14-0 run to put the game out of reach. The Tide shot 42 percent from the field from the game, 29 percent from behind the arc and 60 percent from the free throw line. The Lady Vols were 45 percent from the field and 36 percent from the three point line. Tennessee won the battle of the boards outrebounding Alabama 51-31.
Everyone is Packing the House against the Tide:
With today's contest at South Carolina, Alabama will have taken part in four NCAA Pack the House Challenge games this season. Aside from its own game at home against Auburn, the Tide was a guest for Middle Tennessee, Ole Miss, and now South Carolina's Pack the House Challenge game.
40 Minute Magee:
Junior guard Dedrea Magee has played two entire games this season for Alabama. The first of her 40-minute performances came at Auburn on Jan. 22 followed by the Tide's road contest at Tennessee on Feb. 12.
Not so Friendly February:
The Tide has yet to win a game in the month of February this season. In fact, the last time Alabama picked up a W in February was on Feb. 16, 2006 when it escaped 61-59 on the road at Mississippi State.
Raffington Coming Alive in SEC Play:
Varisia Raffington has stepped up to become the Tide's go-to player in conference action. The sophomore is currently tied for second for most three-pointers in a game (seven at Vanderbilt), second in three-point field goal percentage (.476), third in field goal percentage (.504), fourth in scoring (15.5 ppg) and tied for sixth in three-pointers made per contest (2.0).
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 602-424 for an overall winning percentage of 58.7.
Point-Production Improvement:
With an average of 64.5 points per game, Alabama is producing just under 10 more points per contest this season compared to last season. The Tide managed just 54.9 points per outing at the conclusion of the 2007-08 year.
The Tide is Turning:
After winning just eight games last season, the Tide has collected 12 victories thus far this season.
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.
Butler and Russell from Downtown:
Freshman Ericka Russell leads Alabama in three-pointers this season with 44. She is 27.3 percent from beyond the arc thus far hitting 44 of 161 attempts. Right behind Russell is sophomore Alyson Butler with 37 threes. Butler has made 28.7 percent of her shots from three-point range having connected on 37 of 129 attempts. Both have taken the majority of their shots from three-point range with Russell shooting 65.2 percent of her shots from outside the line and Butler taking 74.1 percent of her attempts from beyond the arc.
Alabama from Beyond the Arc:
The Tide has hit a three-point shot in 50 consecutive games. In Alabama's game at Vanderbilt on Feb. 1, the Tide connected on 10 attempts from beyond the arc. That was the first time Alabama has hit 10 or more threes in a game since Dec. 4, 2006 when it hit 11 against McNeese State. 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 24 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. Sophomore Varisia Raffington has led the way four times, while junior Dedrea Magee and sophomore Alyson Butler have twice. Sophomore Katie Hancock and freshman Kayla Robinson have each led in point production once. Jenkins and Raffington collected 13 points each to lead the Tide against Auburn on Feb. 8.
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 59-124 on the season thus far for a 47.6 clip.
Variety is the Spice of Life:
A total of 14 players have seen court time in Alabama's games this season. Twelve of those 14 players are averaging nine minutes or more. Junior Dedrea Magee leads the way with 26.1 minutes an outing.
`Bama on the Boards:
The Tide has been solid on the boards collecting a total of 41.7 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.
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.
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 returns home for a rematch with Ole Miss on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6:00 p.m. (CST). This game will serve as the Tide's Pink Zone game raising awareness for breast cancer.
