Crimson Tide Continues December Homestand with Mercer on Sunday
12/13/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BROADCAST
Sunday's game will be televised on the SEC Network with Cara Capuano (play-by-play) and Carolyn Peck (analyst) on the call. The game can also be heard on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Roger Hoover announcing the action. There will be live updates throughout the game available on Twitter @AlabamaWBB.
SERIES HISTORY
Sunday's game is the third meeting in the series between Alabama and Mercer and the first since 1994. The Crimson Tide holds a 2-0 advantage heading into the contest and has outscored the Bears by an average of 38.5 points per game (96-57.5).
SCOUTING ALABAMA
Alabama went 3-0 last week earning wins against USC Upstate (74-65), UT Martin (68-55) and No. 12/15 Nebraska (53-51) to improve to 8-3 on the season. With four non-conference games left, the Crimson Tide has already surpassed its win total from last year during the first two months of the season. Alabama had a lot of balance last week with five players averaging nine points or better and five grabbing four or more rebounds per game. Senior Bri Hutchen recorded a career-high 21 points in addition to 10 rebounds for the second double-double of her career in the win over USC Upstate, while freshman Hannah Cook led the charge again UT Martin scoring a career-high 23 points to lead four UA players in double figures. In Sunday's win over the previously unbeaten Huskers, redshirt freshman Karyla Middlebrook contributed a team-best 14 points and Cook added a career-best 10 rebounds.
SCOUTING MERCER
Mercer went 1-1 last week, falling to Georgia, 68-49, before beating Georgia Southern, 84-61. Seniors Briana Williams and Precious Bridges combined for 42 points in the win over the Eagles, while freshman Kahlia Lawrence had 10 points and 11 rebounds for her first double-double. As a team, the Bears are averaging 69.1 points per game and are shooting 40.0 percent from the floor. Bridges leads the way with a season average of 23.0 points per game and is followed by Lawrence at 13.1 points per game. Today's game will be the third of the season for Mercer against an opponent from the Southeastern Conference. In addition to taking on the Lady Bulldogs last week the Bears opened the season at Mississippi State, falling 97-66.
THE COACHES
Alabama head coach Kristy Curry has a history of success in her 15 year career. Nine of her teams have made the NCAA tournament, including a trip to the 2001 championship game while coaching at Purdue. With the Boilermakers, she won two Big Ten regular season titles. She holds an overall coaching record of 331-168 and has led nine teams to 20-win seasons. Mercer is led by fifth-year head coach Susie Gardner, who holds a 50-79 record at the helm. Gardner has 15 years of head coaching experience overall with previous stops at Arkansas (2003-07) and Austin Peay (1996-2003).
