Coach Kristy Curry knew it wouldn’t be easy, but Alabama women’s basketball finally got a much-needed win after dropping five in a row dating back to late January.
The Crimson Tide began its week on the wrong end of a hard-fought game against No. 9 South Carolina, but did enough to encourage the coach, who noted the statistical advantages UA earned over the defending national champions after the game.
Curry continued to urge her team to play with more consistency after the loss, asking her six seniors and junior Shaquera Wade to give more steady production around sophomore point guard Jordan Lewis. She got her wish in the Crimson Tide’s 82-79 win over the Ole Miss Rebels.
All five Alabama starters scored in double digits, including a career-high 23 points from Lewis. In fact, the team effort was enough to erase 11 3-point makes by Ole Miss in the first half. To put that into perspective, Alabama has not made more than eight 3-point shots in a full game this season.
The win brought Alabama’s league record to 5-7 on the season, and the Crimson Tide is eighth in the SEC standings.
“With four games to go our NCAA Tournament hopes are still alive,” Curry said. “(SEC) teams have gotten in at 6-10, 7-9, 8-8 and 9-7. … I told my team this morning it’s a two-week season. Two weeks, that’s it.”
On Thursday Alabama will travel to Knoxville to take on No. 10 Tennessee. UA has been victorious in its last three meetings with the Lady Vols, and two years ago squashed a 42-game losing streak to Tennessee that dated back to 1980.
