Alabama
Virginia Tech
Alabama Women’s Basketball Heads to Virginia Tech for WNIT Quarterfinals
3/24/2018 12:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Game will tip at 1 p.m CT in Cassell Coliseum
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama (20-13) will be making its second consecutive appearance in the Women's National Invitation Tournament quarterfinals, taking on Virginia Tech (21-13) Sunday in Blacksburg, Va. Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT in Cassell Coliseum.
THE BROADCAST
• Sunday's game will be available to watch on ACC Network Extra.
• The game can also be heard on the Crimson Tide Sports Network on 93.3 FM in Tuscaloosa with Roger Hoover on the broadcast.
OPENING TIP
• Alabama is making its seventh appearance in the Women's National Invitation Tournament and third in a row. This is the first time under head coach Kristy Curry that the Crimson Tide has been the automatic qualifier out of the Southeastern Conference as the last two berths were as an at-large selection.
• Alabama advanced to the quarterfinals of the WNIT with a 61-59 victory over Georgia Tech on Thursday. Senior Meo Knight scored the game-winner with 5.5 seconds remaining on the clock to send the Crimson Tide to its second straight round of eight in the WNIT. Senior Ashley Williams led Alabama in scoring with 15 points, while sophomore Jasmine Walker hauled in a team-best eight rebounds.
• The Tide holds an overall record of 11-6 in the WNIT following Thursday's victory.
• Alabama has now advanced to the quarterfinals three times in program history, making it to the round of eight a season ago and in 2002 when it was a 32-team field.
• Alabama senior Ashley Williams was recognized as the SEC Player of the Week in addition to earning a spot on ncaaW's Starting Five on Feb. 19 after recording a pair of double-doubles in the wins at No. 11 Tennessee and at home against Auburn.
THE SERIES
• Alabama and Virginia Tech will be meeting for the third time in the series when they take the court on Sunday, however it will be the first game between the Crimson Tide and Hokies since 2004.
• The two teams played a home-and-home during the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons with Virginia Tech prevailing on both occasions.
• In the first meeting, which took place on Dec. 7, 2003 in Tuscaloosa, the Hokies won 68-51, and just shy of one year later, on Dec. 4, 2004, Virginia Tech won 72-59 in Blacksburg.
SCOUTING ALABAMA
• Alabama enters Sunday's game with a 20-13 overall record and wrapped up SEC play with a 7-9 mark.
• With its 20 wins, the Crimson Tide recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons. Alabama won 22 games last year, ending its season in the WNIT quarterfinals at Georgia Tech, 76-66.
• UA is 6-5 in road games this season, which includes a 2-1 mark against non-conference foes.
• The Crimson Tide is led in scoring by senior Hannah Cook, who averages 11.9 points per game and in rebounding by fellow senior Ashley Williams, who averages 7.1 boards per contest. Sophomore Jordan Lewis leads the way in assists with 3.4 per game.
• As a team, Alabama is averaging 69.9 points in non-conference games, 13.5 more than its opponents, and is outrebounding the opposition 43.1-35.5.
• The Tide has outscored its opponents 630-512 in the fourth quarter this season.
• After finishing the 2016-17 season last in the SEC in free throw percentage, Alabama has jumped up to sixth, hitting 72.5 percent of its attempts as a team.
• In 26 of its 33 games this season, Alabama has had eight or more in the scoring column. In 10 of those 25 games, 10 or more scored for the Crimson Tide.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH
• Virginia Tech stands at 21-13 overall and ended its Atlantic Coast Conference slate with a 6-10 mark.
• The Hokies advanced to Sunday's WNIT quarterfinal game with wins over Navy (56-55), George Mason (78-69) and Fordham (81-50).
• In Sunday's win over the Rams, Virginia Tech scored 31 points in the second quarter. All five starters finished in double figures, led by Rachel Camp's 20-point performance. The Hokie bench accounted for just four points, however reserve Rachel Barry pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.
• Virginia Tech is led in scoring by Taylor Emery, who averages 18.2 points per game, while Regan Magarity leads the team in rebounds with 9.4 per contest. The Hokies are led in assists by Rachel Camp (1.9 apg).
• Virginia Tech is under the direction of second-year head coach Kenny Brooks. Brooks took over in Blacksburg following a 14-year stint at James Madison, where he led the Dukes to the NCAA tournament nine times.
COMMON OPPONENTS
• Alabama and Virginia Tech have played four common opponents in Auburn, UCF, NC State and Georgia Tech. The Crimson Tide is 3-2 in its five games against the group, while the Hokies are 3-1 vs. the common opponents. Both teams lost to NC State. Alabama's other loss was its loss at Auburn.
