Alabama
Mercer
Women’s Basketball Breaks Records as Curry Wins 100th Game of Alabama Career with 111-56 Rout of Mercer
11/17/2019 6:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Crimson Tide scored 41 points in the second period, which were the most in UA history
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – In a record performance, head coach Kristy Curry became just the second coach in Alabama history to earn her 100th win at UA with the 111-56 rout of Mercer inside Coleman Coliseum on Sunday afternoon. With the victory the Crimson Tide improves to 2-1, while Mercer drops to 1-3. Alabama's 111 points were the most scored by a Tide team in a regulation game since 1994.
Put up over 100 in Coach Curry's 100th win!! ??????#RollTide #GritAndGratitude ???? pic.twitter.com/XyLCv3iXHc
— Alabama Women's Basketball (@AlabamaWBB) November 17, 2019
Sophomore De'Sha Benjamin paced the Tide with her first double-double of her career, tying her career-high with 16 points, while grabbing a career-best 10 rebounds. Junior Jasmine Walker and sophomore Brittany Davis put in 12 points, while sophomore Hannah Barber also finished with a career-high 12 points in the win. Thirteen of the fourteen players who checked in for Alabama each contributed a point to the victory.
?? First career double-double for De'Sha!! ??
— Alabama Women's Basketball (@AlabamaWBB) November 17, 2019
16 points | 10 rebounds ??
Q4 - 4:00 | ?? 107 ?? 49#RollTide #GritAndGratitude ???? pic.twitter.com/qQM6bjPkZ8
Key Notes & Stats
- The 111 points in a game that ended in regulation were the most since Alabama put up 119 against UNC-Asheville on Dec. 29, 1994. The last time the Crimson Tide scored 100-plus points was in double overtime against Troy on Dec. 20, 2013, with its 113-105 victory over the Trojans. In regulation, the last game Alabama dropped 100 or more was on Dec. 2, 2006 against Savannah State.
- The 41-point performance in the second quarter were the most ever for UA since the NCAA changed from halves to quarters for the 2015-16 season. The previous high was 33 points in the fourth quarter at Arkansas on Jan. 7, 2018.
- The 55-point margin of victory was the largest since the Tide's season opener in 2017 against Alabama A&M, with UA taking home the 90-32 win on Nov. 10.
- For the game, Alabama tied the record for most three-point baskets in a game by a Tide team with 14. UA shot 14-of-27 (52 percent) from behind the arc. The only other two times Alabama converted 14 three-point field goals was back in 1992 and then again in 1993.
- The Tide bench contributed scored an unheard of 71 points, while holding Mercer to only 18.
- UA showed strength on the glass, grabbing a total of 46 rebounds to the Bears 27 rebounds in the game.
- Alabama was able to score 21 points off of second chance opportunities and not allowing Mercer to score on a second chance basket.
???? The Tide came to shoot today!! Alabama has tied the school record for three-pointers made with 14!!
— Alabama Women's Basketball (@AlabamaWBB) November 17, 2019
END OF Q3 | ?? 92 ?? 44#RollTide #GritAndGratitude ???? pic.twitter.com/01r4jGkRmc
From Coach Curry
- "I loved our team today," Curry said. "That's how we have been shooting the basketball and that's who we expect to be. That's who we see in practice and we really need build off that today. I thought the second, third, and fourth quarter at Clemson really fed into today. Our bench was phenomenal. Credit to Hannah (Barber). We have a lot of confidence in putting her in the game and she came in today and really made a big difference for us."
Quarter-by-Quarter
- Alabama started out hot against Mercer, building a 12-4 lead after the first five minutes of the game. MU cut into the Tide's lead before Benjamin hit a three at the buzzer to give UA the 20-17 advantage after the first 10 minutes of action.
- The Tide found its rhythm in its historic second period, outscoring Mercer 41-9. UA went on a 28-3 run to close out the half with Walker draining a three-pointer at the end of the second to put Alabama up 61-26 at the halftime break.
- UA continued to grow its lead in the third period, scoring 31 points while holding the Bears to 18. Walker hit a three from the behind the arc at the close of the third period that tied the record for the most three-point baskets in a game by Alabama. With the basket, UA extended its lead to 92-44 heading into the final 10 minutes of action.
- In the fourth period, Alabama scored 19 points on its way to the 111-56 win.
Player Spotlight
- Benjamin was on fire, shooting 6-of-8 (75 percent) from the field including 2-of-3 from behind the arc for her 16 points. She tied her career high that she set last season versus Northwestern State on Dec. 16.
- Barber set a new career-high in points with 12, while shooting 4-of-6 from three-point land and dishing out five assists.
- Walker had her second consecutive game scoring in double-digits. She added 12 points, all of which came from three-pointers, going 4-of-5 from behind the arc. Walker also had a team-best 42 plus-minus.
- Sophomore Megan Abrams played solid minutes for the Tide, putting in nine points, a career-high five assists and four rebounds.
- In her first action of the season, sophomore Allie Craig Cruce added nine points and three rebounds in 13 minutes.
3-straight 3's for @hdebarber!! ????
— Alabama Women's Basketball (@AlabamaWBB) November 17, 2019
3?3?3?
Q2 - 6:10 | ?? 35 ?? 22#RollTide #GritAndGratitude ???? pic.twitter.com/mzZBS2YG7H
Up Next
- Next up, Alabama will hit the road on Thursday, Nov. 21 when it takes on South Alabama in Mobile. The Crimson Tide and the Jaguars are set to tipoff at 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
For all the latest information on the team, follow AlabamaWBB on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. General athletic news can be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
