Alabama women earn first home victory

TUSCALOOSA | The Alabama women’s basketball team earned its first home win of the season on Sunday behind a stellar defensive effort in Coleman Coliseum.

The Crimson Tide held St. Mary’s to 24.6 percent shooting from the field and knocked off the Gaels 66-56 to improve its record to 3-6.

It was the sixth time Alabama has held a team to less than 60 points and the ninth time the Crimson Tide has outrebounded its opponent. The Tide had 54 rebounds to St. Mary’s 43.

Alabama led by just three points at half, 26-23, despite holding St. Mary’s to 6-of-30 shooting.

St. Mary’s missed its first 16 shots, and didn’t score its first point until Suzie Davis made a free throw 6 minutes and 11 seconds into the first half.

The Gael’s didn’t make its first field goal until the 11:15 mark, but found itself trailing only 10-3 thanks to Alabama’s inability to make shots.

The Crimson Tide shot 12-of-32 from the field in the first half and had 14 turnovers that kept St. Mary’s in the game despite its poor shooting.

Alabama coach Stephany Smith said the effort level wasn’t there for her team in the first half.

“I thought St. Mary’s played really hard tonight,” Smith said. “I thought we looked like we have final exams tomorrow…and we do.”

Tierney Jenkins and Courtney Strauthers were the Crimson Tide’s top scorers entering the half with five points each.

Alabama started the second half on an 18-7 run – taking a 44-30 lead – while continuing to put defensive pressure on St. Mary’s. The Gaels started the second half going 2-of-11 from the field.

A Tierney Jenkins layup and two Talisha Chandler layups gave the Crimson Tide a second-half jumpstart as it raced out to its largest lead of the game at 14 points.

Chandler, who scored a team-high 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting, said team defense was the reason for the team earning its first home win.

“Everything starts on the defensive end,” she said. “Good defense opens things up for the offense.”

Chandler had seven rebounds, three assists and one steal in 28 minutes of action.

Point guard Dedrea Magee had 11 points, nine rebounds and four assists playing all but two minutes of the game.

Magee has been key in helping hold Alabama together after the team lost three games before the start of the season.

Guards Alyson Butler and Katie Hancock were lost to season ending injuries and last season’s point guard, Nikki Davis, left the team before its first game.

Smith said Magee has responded after being counted on to handle the bulk of the team’s ball handling.

“She has made great strides from her freshman season to this year,” Smith said.

Jenkins and Courtney Strauthers each scored 10 points with Jenkins earning a double-double with 10 rebounds.

Daleisha Carn, who a scored-career high 20 points her last time out, netted nine points to go with five assists and four steals.

St. Mary’s (5-5) Serena Benavente and Jontelle Smith each scored 15 points, and 6-foor-4 freshman forward Louella Tomlinson dominated the paint with 10 blocks.

Alabama will have the beginning of the week off as players take final exams. The Crimson Tide will play next at Tennessee-Chattanooga on Saturday before returning home for a six-game homestand.