Women's Basketball Hosts No. 7 Duke on Sunday
11/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
PROMOTIONS
There are several promotions planned for Sunday's game against the Blue Devils. The first 2,000 fans will receive a White Out T-shirt courtesy of Tuscaloosa Toyota, while Salute to Service week continues with free admission to military. In addition, all UA alumni receive a ticket, hot dog and drink for $5, and women's basketball summer campers receive free admission.
BROADCAST
Sunday's game will be televised on the SEC Network and WatchESPN.com with Cara Capuano (play-by-play) and Nell Fortner (analyst) on the call. The action can also be heard on the Crimson Tide Sports Network. There will be live updates throughout the game available on Twitter @AlabamaWBB.
SERIES HISTORY
Alabama and Duke are meeting for the third time in the series on Sunday. Each owns one win with the last going to the Blue Devils, 92-57, on Nov. 17, 2013, in Durham, N.C. The first game between the two was an epic four overtime thriller in the 1995 NCAA tournament that the Tide won, 121-120.
SCOUTING ALABAMA
Alabama opened the 2014-15 season with a 60-44 win over Florida A&M on Friday in Coleman Coliseum. Sophomore Ashley Williams paced the Crimson Tide with 21 points and 11 rebounds for the sixth double-double of her career. She was joined in double figures by freshmen Hannah Cook and Meoshonti Knight, who added 10 points apiece. Alabama outrebounded the Lady Rattlers, 55-45, and got to the free throw line 34 times.
SCOUTING DUKE
Duke will be playing its first game of the season on Sunday when it takes on Alabama. The Blue Devils, ranked No. 7 in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls, return one starter from a year ago in senior AP All-America Elizabeth Williams, who averaged 13.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Duke has won 23 straight games against unranked teams.
THE COACHES
Alabama head coach Kristy Curry has a history of success in her 15 year career. Nine of her teams have made the NCAA tournament, including a trip to the 2001 championship game while coaching at Purdue. With the Boilermakers, she won two Big Ten regular season titles. She holds an overall coaching record of 324-165 and has led nine teams to 20-win seasons. Duke is under the direction of Joanne P. McCallie, who is in her eighth season at Duke and 23rd overall as a head coach. The three-time ACC Coach of the Year led the Blue Devils to three league championship titles in the last five years. She is 202-42 at Duke and 518-190 overall.
LAST MEETING
Alabama played at then-No. 2 Duke in the Crimson Tide's third-straight road game to open the 2013-14 season where it dropped a 92-57 decision at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Four players finished in double figures for UA, led by Shafontaye Myers and Khadijah Carter, who had 13 points each. Duke shot 52.3 percent (34-65), while Alabama went 40.0 percent (20-50) from the floor. The Blue Devils also used their size to outrebound the Tide 47-27, however the Tide did force 21 turnovers.
CRIMSON TIDE INKS TOP 25 CLASS
Alabama signed a top 25 recruiting class for next season that contains four talented playmakers in Taylor Doan, C'coriea Foy, Trista Magee and Shaquera Wade. The class, which is ranked 24th in the nation by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and fourth in the Southeastern Conference has a mix of all positions and features players from Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri and North Carolina.
