Alabama women’s basketball continued to struggle after its bye week, and that’s not a good sign one game before the Crimson Tide embarks on the toughest stretch of its schedule.
After dropping a home game against Arkansas on Sunday, Alabama has now lost three straight conference games to opponents at the bottom of the league standings. Coach Kristy Curry was noticeably frustrated after the loss, unhappy with the way her team executed the game plan that it had a full week to prepare.
“I felt like we were coaching effort,” Curry said. “I felt like we were coaching demeanor. I thought that we were coaching a will. … It was disappointing, and I don’t have an explanation for it.”
The loss was a continuation of what has hurt Alabama the most this season, and that’s inconsistent play from its top players. Coming into the season UA’s depth was looked at as one of its biggest strengths, but the constant rotation of bodies makes it challenging to keep players in a rhythm.
Only sophomore point guard Jordan Lewis is averaging more than 30 minutes per game in Alabama’s last six contests, and she has been the Crimson Tide’s most consistent player. Four times during that stretch she scored in double digits, and she has led the team in assists all six games.
Outside of a career-high 22 points from Lewis and 16 points from senior Quanetria Bolton, no other players on the Crimson Tide scored in double digits against the Razorbacks.
Tough times are ahead for Alabama if it can’t get more consistency from its six seniors and junior Shaquera Wade. UA will play South Carolina and Tennessee, two teams ranked in the top 10, in its next three games.
