Women's Basketball Hosts Central Florida on Wednesday
12/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 2, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -
Women's Basketball vs. Central Florida
Wednesday, December 2 at 6:00 p.m. (CST)
Coleman Coliseum
Admission: $5 for adults and $3 for youth; Alabama students free with Action Card
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network
TV: WVUA (Tape Delayed)
Alabama Women's Basketball Hosts Central Florida on Wednesday
After a successful trip to Nevada, the Alabama women's basketball team returns home to host Central Florida on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at Coleman Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (CST). The Crimson Tide currently sits at 4-2 on the season, while the Knights have compiled an overall record of 1-5. Most recently, Alabama went 1-1 at the Nugget Classic hosted by the University of Nevada in Reno, and Central Florida wrapped up its trip to the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas with a 3-0 record.
Alabama and Central Florida:
The Crimson Tide and the Knights are facing off for the fourth time in program history tonight. Alabama has won all three of the previous meetings by an average of 27.7 points. Below is a list of how the matchups finished:
Feb. 5, 1995 Alabama 95, Central Florida 63 Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Nov. 24, 1995 Alabama 87, Central Florida 58 Tuscaloosa, Ala. (UA Sheraton Capstone Inn Classic)
Dec. 12, 2003 Alabama 63, Central Florida 41 Orlando, Fla. (UCF Classic)
Scouting Central Florida:
Central Florida is led all around by sophomore Emma Cannon. Cannon tops the Knights in points per game at 15.2 and rebounds per contest with 10.2. She is currently shooting better than 50 percent from the floor. Last time out, Central Florida lost a 68-50 decision to Villanova at the Paradise Jam.
Who to Watch:
Freshman Ericka Russell has emerged as a scoring option as of late for the Tide. It all began for Russell at Hampton when she knocked down four three-pointers and finished the game with 14 points. In Alabama's contest with No. 7/8 Louisville, Russell was the Tide's leading point producer with 16. Twelve of her points came from beyond the arc.
Last Time Out:
After falling to No. 7/8 Louisville on Friday, Alabama regrouped the next day and earned a 76-56 victory over Northern Iowa in the consolation game of the Nugget Classic. All 11 of the Crimson Tide players that entered the game scored led by sophomore Alyson Butler with 15 points. Also scoring in doubles figures for Alabama were sophomores Katie Hancock and Daleisha Carn with 11 and 10, respectively. Junior Courtney Strauthers had a game-high eight rebounds, and Carn topped all players in assists with six and blocks with two. Freshman Ericka Russell was named to the all-tournament team as voted on by participating coaches.
Next up:
Alabama continues its home stand Sunday when it takes on Sam Houston State on the backend of a double-header with the men's basketball team. Tipoff is scheduled for 30 minutes after the men's game finishes (around 2:30). This will be the first meeting between the Tide and the Bearkats.
Ericka Russell Voted to the Nugget Classic All-Tournament Team:
Alabama freshman Ericka Russell was one of six players named to the Nugget Classic All-Tournament Team. The squad was voted on by the four participating coaches. She finished the two-game Classic with 24 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two assists.
Put me in Coach, I'm Ready to Play:
In Alabama's opening three contests, a total of 14 players have seen court time. Nine of those 14 players are averaging 10 minutes or more. Dedrea Magee leads the way with 25.2 minutes per outing.
`Bama on the Boards:
The Tide has been dominant in the lane outrebounding its opponents by an average of 6.7 boards per game while collecting a total of 46.7 per contest. In Alabama's contest with Samford, the Tide held the Bulldogs to zero offensive rebounds over the first 28:04.
I'll Take my Bench over your Bench:
Alabama's bench scoring has accounted for an average of 36.7 points per game this season and 220 points overall. That is over half of the Tide's total point output thus far. Below is a list of how many points the bench has produced in each game:
Nov. 14, 2008 vs. Centenary - 28 points
Nov. 18, 2008 vs. Samford - 24 points
Nov. 22, 2008 at Hampton - 35 points
Nov. 25, 2008 vs. Alabama State - 52 points
Nov. 28, 2008 vs. Louisville - 43 points
Nov. 29, 2008 vs. Northern Iowa - 38 points
Tide Making a Habit of Scoring First:
Alabama has put up the first points in five of its six contests this season.
60 is the Magic Number:
In both of Alabama's losses, the Tide has failed to reach the 60-point mark, but in all four of its wins has eclipsed that mark.
Tide Welcomes Six Newcomers:
A total of six new players will dawn the crimson and white this season for the women's basketball team. Carmen McCoy, Kayla Robinson, Ericka Russell and Candace Sykes all signed on nearly one year ago, while Danielle Hicks and Candiss Willingham were recently added as walk-ons.
Fresh Faces on the Sidelines:
Wendell Hudson returns to the sidelines after spending the last six years in administration to head up the Alabama women's basketball team. Hudson, who possesses 26 years of basketball coaching experience, is no stranger to Alabama as he was the first African-American scholarship athlete at the Capstone while playing under C.M. Newton. Joining him will be former Tide standouts Joni Crenshaw and Stacey Franklin along with Ty Evans, who enters his second season as a member of the Alabama staff.
