Women's Basketball Opens Regular Season Friday
11/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The women's basketball team tips off its 2008-09 regular season Friday when it hosts Centenary at 6:00 p.m. (CST) in Coleman Coliseum. The contest will be the first between the Crimson Tide and Ladies in program history and first game for Alabama Head Coach Wendell Hudson on the sidelines at his Alma matter.
Friday's matchup marks the start of Alabama women's basketball's 35th season. Its first official game recorded was played on Dec. 6, 1974 where the Tide won 78-50 at Athens University. Since that time, Alabama has compiled a 589-412 mark all-time and 273-117 record in Coleman Coliseum.
"Our focus on this game is going to be about how we play and the things we have control over," said Hudson. "I would really like for us to go out there and play the way we do in practice. Sometimes when you get in game situations people forget what they are supposed to do. We are looking forward to the game as it is the first for both teams."
Most recently, Alabama had a pair of tune-ups with a Crimson-White intrasquad scrimmage and exhibition game against West Alabama. In the intrasquad, the Crimson team emerged victorious by a score of 57-48. Sophomore Tierney Jenkins and freshman Carmen McCoy both notched double-doubles with Jenkins collecting 20 points and 11 rebounds and McCoy adding 13 points and 19 rebounds. Alabama rolled past West Alabama in its final outing of the preseason with a 76-49 win. Jenkins recorded another double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Alyson Butler also chipped in 14 points for the Tide. Alabama finished the night shooting 45.9 percent from the floor including 44.4 percent from beyond the arc.
The Tide is 27-7 in openers including nine wins in the past 11 years. Alabama is 12-2 in season debuts in the friendly confines of Coleman Coliseum. Although the Tide has never faced Centenary, this will be the 10th meeting for Alabama against a Summit League institution. The Tide has seen both Oral Roberts and South Dakota State three times, North Dakota State twice and UMKC once. Alabama owns a 5-4 mark in those nine contests with the last of which being played on Dec. 30, 2006 against North Dakota State where the Tide won 78-53.
Friday's game will also be the first of the year for Centenary. The Ladies finished up the 2007-08 season with a 4-25 overall record and 1-17 standing in the Summit League. They return eight letterwinners from last season including the top three performers in each statistical category.
Tickets for women's basketball games can be purchased on www.Rolltide.com or by calling the ticket office at 1-877-TIDETIX. For those unable to attend the game, tune in to the Crimson Tide Sports Network as Mick Gillispie delivers the play-by-play from start to finish.
Next up, Alabama faces Samford on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 6:00 p.m. (CST) in Coleman Coliseum.
