Tide Women?s Hoops to Host Savannah State Saturday
12/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA ?? The University of Alabama women’s basketball team looks to continue its winning ways at home on Saturday when the team welcomes Savannah State to Coleman Coliseum. The Tide owns a four-game home win streak after its win over Tennessee Chattanooga on Wednesday.
The Alabama-Savannah State matchup is the first game of a men’s-women’s doubleheader and is set to tip-off at noon. Television coverage will be provided by WVUA, with the radio broadcast by the Crimson Tide Sports Network.
“Our main objective at this point in our program is to continue to make forward progress,” said Tide head coach Stephany Smith. “I believe all of that starts in Coleman Coliseum. The fact that we have started our season defending our home court to this point is very important. Our success at home has a lot to do with our fan base and if we can continue to play well at home, hopefully we can continue to build that base.”
Alabama (5-2) comes into the contest riding a four-game home win streak this season after the Tide beat Tennessee Chattanooga, an NCAA Tournament participant last season, by 12 points on Wednesday night. The win matched the Tide’s longest home win streak in the past two seasons.
Kate Mastin, a senior guard who has put herself toward the top of several career charts at Alabama with her hot shooting this season, leads the team in scoring with a 15.9 points per game average. Mastin ranks fourth in school history in career three-point shooting percentage and tied the school record with eight three-pointers made in a game last week against Cal State Northridge.
Savannah State enters the game with a 4-1 mark after its 4-24 season in 2005-06. The Lady Tigers, a Division I independent school, have beaten Tennessee State, Allen University, Charleston Southern and Mercer. Guard Ivy Smith leads the SSU offense, averaging 19.4 points per game.
“Savannah State is an extremely athletic team that has good size in the low post,” said Smith. “They are patient with the ball on the offensive end, and if we do not do a better job rebounding than we did against Chattanooga, it will be difficult for us to win games.”
Despite winning the game against UTC, the Tide surrendered 22 offensive rebounds on the night.
Alabama ends its three-game home stretch on Monday, Dec. 4, when the Tide plays host to McNeese State in a 7 p.m. (CT) contest. Alabama returns to the road on Saturday, Dec. 9, when the team travels to New Orleans to face Tulane in a non-conference game.
