Crimson Tide Back in Action at Home Thursday Against Missouri
2/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The women's basketball team (12-13, 1-9 SEC) returns to Foster Auditorium on Thursday to host the Missouri Tigers (13-11, 3-8 SEC). The game will tip off at 8 p.m. CT, airing live on Fox Sports South.
PROMOTIONS
There are several promotions in place for Thursday's game against Missouri including:
? Tuscaloosa Toyota Crimson Camry Giveaway registration
? Tuscaloosa Toyota Student Prize Giveaways
o Beats Pill 2.0
o 2 - $100 American Express gift cards
o 4 - $50 American Express gift cards
? Free cookie cake from Crimson Chaos to all students in attendance, while supplies last
BROADCAST
Thursday's game will air on Fox Sports South with Tom Werme (play-by-play) and Brittany Jackson (analyst) on the call. The game can also be heard on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Roger Hoover announcing the action. There will be live updates throughout the game available on Twitter @AlabamaWBB.
SERIES HISTORY
Alabama and Missouri are meeting for the sixth time in the series on Thursday. In last year's contest in Columbia, the Tide came away with a 59-56 win, which was Alabama's second win in the series, both of which came in Columbia. Four of the five prior meetings were decided by eight points or less, with the one exception coming in 2013 when the Tigers claimed an 88-64 victory in Tuscaloosa.
SCOUTING ALABAMA
Alabama went 0-1 last week, falling 51-39 at LSU. With the loss, the Crimson Tide stands at 12-13 overall and 1-9 in league play heading into the second week of February. Sophomore Ashley Williams recorded double figures for the 15th time this season and 36th of her career in the loss to the Tigers with a game-high 15 points. She was joined in double figures by freshman Meoshonti Knight, who added 11 points off the bench. Williams continues to lead Alabama in scoring and rebounding for the season with averages of 13.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
SCOUTING MISSOURI
Missouri snapped a two game losing skid last time out after holding on to beat Auburn, 59-49, in Columbia. Junior Maddie Stock went off for 23 points, while sophomore Jordan Frericks recorded a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Tigers. For the season, Frericks averages a double-double of 13.6 points and 10.2 rebounds to lead Missouri, while senior Morgan Eye continues to pace the league in three point field goal percentage (.349) and three point field goals made (2.5 pg).
THE COACHES
Alabama head coach Kristy Curry has a history of success in her 16 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 335-178 and has led nine teams to 20-win seasons. The Tigers are under the direction of fifth-year head coach Robin Pingeton, who, in 2013, guided Missouri back to the postseason for the first time since 2007, and returned again in 2014. Prior to taking over in Columbia, Pingeton spent seven seasons at Illinois State (2003-10) after beginning her head coaching career at St. Ambrose, where she served for eight seasons (1992-2000). She holds an overall record of 408-233 over her 19 seasons as a head coach, including a 73-76 mark at Missouri.
LAST MEETING
In last year's meeting in Columbia, Alabama came away with a 59-56 victory. Sharin Rivers had a career-high 18 points to lead the Crimson Tide offensively, while Briana Hutchen had a game-best 13 rebounds in the win. For Missouri, junior Morgan Eye had a game-high 19 points. Alabama led at the start, opening the game with the first four points and remained in front until Missouri was able to tie it up twice midway through the half. With the game locked at 16, the Tide would score eight unanswered points over the next four minutes to lead 24-16 with 4:35 remaining. Alabama continued to distance itself and, behind a pair of made free throws by Hutchen with 1.7 seconds remaining, went into the locker room with a 10-point advantage, 32-22. The Tigers used a 12-6 run at the beginning of the second half to pull within six at the 15:24 mark. The Tide would bring its lead back out to eight minutes later, but again Missouri would strike, going on an 11-2 run to take its first lead of the game with 7:40 to play. The Tigers continued to lead until Ashley Williams drove in for the layup with 4:17 to go to put Alabama in front, 50-49. The game would go back and forth down the stretch, but five-straight points from Daisha Simmons gave the Tide just enough distance to seal the victory. For the game, Alabama shot 36.5 percent (19-52), while Missouri was 32.2 percent (20-62) from the floor. The Tide was solid on defense, holding the Tigers to just five three-pointers, which is nearly five less than they average.
