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Men's Basketball
Crimson Tide Defeats Missouri Tigers 80-71
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The outcome was never really in doubt. The Alabama men's basketball team, leading by as many as 24 points, went on to defeat the Missouri Tigers 80-71 yesterday in front of a sold out Coleman Coliseum. Sophomore forward RILEY NORRIS led a group of five Crimson Tide players scoring in double-digits.
Norris pumped in 18 points on the afternoon, followed by senior guard RETIN OBASOHAN with 16 points, sophomore JUSTIN COLEMAN added 14, with JIMMIE TAYLOR and ARTHUR EDWARDS adding another 11 each.
Obasohan led the team in rebounds pulling down seven, followed by Norris, Taylor and MICHAEL KESSENS with five apiece. Coleman had five assists to lead the team in that category, with Obasohan right behind him with four.
Alabama head coach AVERY JOHNSON said, "Really terrific effort by our guys today. We were fortunate because of our efforts on defense and offense
to build a pretty sizable lead, and we did it by the way we moved the
ball on offense. We only had three turnovers at the half, that's a
miracle. We were able to build the lead in the first half, 12-point lead
going in at halftime and then we came out and we did some pretty nice
things in the first five to seven minutes in the second half.
"I am really proud of our guys. I am not as focused on how we lost the
lead. We had some younger guys in there, some walk-ons, guys who needed
to get some minutes and improve. They have been working hard on our
scout team, so I was glad that we were able to get them some minutes. I
am glad that we won the game and the way we won the game."
Alabama shot 47 percent from the field, 50 percent in the second half. Taylor and DONTA HALL led the team in blocked shots with four apiece. The other block came from Edwards. The Tide was able to score 21 second-chance points in the game.
Concerning having five players scoring in double figures Johnson said, "Coming into this game, we understood what the situation was. We know where Missouri is with their program. We wanted to just come out and do what we had to do on both ends of the floor. I am trying to grow these guys into more of a sustainable effort. Out of 40 minutes today, we probably played 32 good minutes, whereas normally we play 22 minutes or 18. So, trying to get more of a sustainable effort, try to grow them into more maturity, trying to get them to be more consistent. But again, three turnovers in the first half and we finished with 13. So when we have three turnovers in the first half, they scored 48 points. Ten more turnovers in the second half, they score 43 points. So trying to stretch them to grow into maturity like I told them before the Mississippi State game, it's only 10 games left, tonight, nine. But I am proud of them in a lot of ways and specifically Jimmie Taylor. He is bringing positive energy to the start of our games and during the games."
The Crimson Tide battles No. 8 Texas A&M this Wednesday, February 10th at Coleman Coliseum. The tip off will be at 6 p.m. CT and will be aired on the SEC Network.
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Crimson Tide Softball Fan Day Big Success
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Amelia B. Barton
The 2016 college softball season gets underway this coming week, and the University of Alabama softball team welcomed fans to Rhoads Stadium yesterday for Fan Day.
Head softball coach PATRICK MURPHEY commented, "When I drove down the street before I got here, there were already people in line to get in to watch our scrimmage. That doesn't happen anywhere else in the country. Our fans here at Rhoads Stadium are the best in college softball."
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Amelia B. Barton
Alabama softball fans had lined up outside the stadium for about 30 minutes awaiting the gates to be opened at 11 a.m. CT. The team went through warmups and then split into two squads for the scrimmage, then afterwards signed autographs for the fans.
"The fans mean so much to us,"senior HAYLIE McCLENEY said. "Not many people can say they draw 3,000 people to a softball game. That's for midweeks, SEC series or anything. Last year against Oklahoma we had 4,000. That's insane. They make this place so much fun to play in."
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Amelia B. Barton
The Crimson Tide opens its 2916 season this Friday, February 12th in Orlando, Florida at the UCF Knights Invitational. Bama takes on Fordham at 1 p.m. CT and then at 5:30 p.m. against No. 17 UCF.
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Amelia B. Barton
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Amelia B. Barton
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Ken Stabler Elected Into Hall Of Fame
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Ken Stabler Elected Into Hall Of Fame
"They" say, "Better late than never," which for the most part is true. This is something that should have happened long ago. Not 30 years.
Former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback KEN "SNAKE" STABLER was was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Not only was Stabler an Alabama football legend, but was also the legendary quarterback of the Oakland Raiders. He played for another legend, Alabama's PAUL "BEAR" BRYANT.
Stabler passed away last year due to complications from colon cancer. Just recently researchers at Boston University said that Stabler suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. CTE is a progressive brain disease that usually manifests in depression, disorientation and aggression. Scientists believe that it is repeated head trauma that causes CTE which is only diagnosable post-mortem.
The Snake was an NFL MVP, Super Bowl winner, broadcaster and great human being. He led the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl win back in 1977.
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Women's Basketball
Alabama Hosts Auburn This Afternoon
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The Crimson Tide's Power of Pink/Play4Kay game against in-state rival Auburn is this this afternoon at 1 p.m. CT at Foster Auditorium. Bama is 14-9, 3-7 SEC while Auburn is 15-8, 5-5 SEC. The game will be aired on the SEC Network.
The purpose of the Power of Pink initiative is to raise awareness of breast cancer.
This will be the 84th meeting between the Tide and Tigers, the 38th in Tuscaloosa. Auburn leads the series 47-36, while the Tide has won 23 of the 38 played in Tuscaloosa. The Tigers, however, have won five of the last six meetings with the Tide. Alabama won the last meeting in Tuscaloosa 51-50.
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Women's Tennis Falls 4-1 To Cowboys
The 13th-ranked Alabama tennis team (2-2) fell 4-1 yesterday to the 10th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-1) in consolation play at the ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championship.
Freshman ANDIE DANIELL picked up wins for the Crimson Tide. She won her first set at the second position in singles. She was able to pick up a win on court two as the the 41st-ranked Daniell defeated the 38th-ranked Vladica Babic for her first win over a ranked opponent in a dual match in her career.
Alabama concludes play today in the ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championship today.
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Women's Golf Competes In Northrop Grumman Challenge
The Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge begins today in Palos Verdes, California, and the Alabama women's golf team will be there to compete in the prestigious tournament. The tourney is held on the par-71, 6,017-yard course at the Palos Verdes Golf Club through Tuesday, February 9th.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – After more than three months away
from competition, the Alabama women’s golf team heads to Palos Verdes,
Calif., to compete in the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge Feb. 7-9.
The tournament will be held on the par-71, 6,017-yard course at the
Palos Verdes Golf Club.
Besides the Crimson Tide, the field in this year's tournament includes Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Duke, Florida, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Pepperdine, UCLA, UNLV, USC, Wake Forest and Washington.
Tee time for the Tide today is 12:12 p.m. CT and will group with Baylor, North Carolina and UNLV for the first round.
