Last season Alabama women’s basketball took a big step forward on the road. Now coach Kristy Curry hopes last year’s success will translate to one of her team’s strengths.
It all started with a game-winning 3-point shot at the buzzer by Quanetria Bolton that downed Missouri last January. Before that moment, Alabama had not won a conference road game since Feb. 23, 2014. It was more than just another win, it was a change in expectations.
The Crimson Tide stole two more wins at Auburn and Ole Miss later in season, bringing the team’s road record to 3-6. It was one step in the right direction, but now Curry doesn’t want her team to be content with the strides it has already made. If her team wants to reach it’s goal of making it to the NCAA Tournament, it’s going to need more road wins on its resume.
The first road challenge of the new season is Georgia Southern, a team that has already dropped two games this season, scoring 49 and 45 points in its losses. In the Eagle’s only home game this season they picked up 68-63 win over Coastal Georgia.
It’s an easy opportunity for Alabama to start well outside of Coleman Coliseum. If the Crimson Tide executes its press defense that it used in the first three games of the season, it should have no trouble shutting down the Eagles.
Georgia Southern has turned the ball over an average of 18 times per game this season, which is right on par with the average 18 turnovers per game created by Alabama’s defense. On top of the sloppy ball handling, the Eagles are shooting just 32 percent the field, and just 25 percent from the 3-point line.
The game against the Eagles will be Alabama’s fourth game in nine days, and the final game before the Crimson Tide travels to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for the Puerto Rico Classic.
“Something we want to do with our preseason schedule is play higher-quality opponents,” Curry said. “… We’re wanting to play tough opponents in the preseason that can really impact our schedule in March and where we land.”
Alabama at Georgia Southern
When: 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 20
Where: Hanner Fieldhouse, Statesboro, GA
Records: Alabama (3-0), Georgia Southern (1-2)
Radio: 100.1 FM
