Thursday, March 17, 2016

Women's Basketball Loses 53-52 To End Season; Women's Swimming & Diving Team Breaks 800 Freestyle Record; Track & Field Begins 2016 Outdoor Season; Bama Softball Set To Play In Easton Tournament


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Women's Basketball Loses 53-52 In WNIT Last Night


Photo Credit: RollTide.com



So close, yet so far.

Despite a valiant effort and a fourth quarter scoring barrage, the Alabama women's basketball team came up short last night as they lost a heart-breaker and season-ending game in the 2016 Women's National Invitational Tournament. The Tide outscored Tulane 21-15 in that final quarter only to lose 53-52 in first-round action at the Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse in New Orleans, Louisiana. Alabama ends its run this season at 15-16 overall.

It didn't help the Tide any that the Green Wave was hot from the free throw stripe, missing only once to go 14-for-15. Alabama was only able to sink 7-of-15 themselves, a big difference-maker in a one-point loss. However, Bama did out shoot Tulane from the floor 41.3 percent (19-of-46) to 30.9 percent (17-of-55). While both teams had an identical 35 rebounds, another difference-maker for the Green Wave was outscoring Bama on those second-chance points 15-3.

Crimson Tide women's basketball head coach KRISTY CURRY commented, "Missed free throws and turnovers were the difference tonight. I don't want the loss to take away from the fact that this team achieved the postseason. We will, as we say, go back to work and continue to be relentless in building the program. We are excited about the future."

Sophomore QUANETRIA BOLTON led the Tide in scoring last night with 12 points as Bama had four women in double figures. Sophomores HANNAH COOK and KARYLA MIDDLEBROOK each pumped in 11 points, while MEOSHONTI KNIGHT put 10 on the scoreboard. Cook grabbed a game-high six rebounds, and junior BREANNA HAYDEN led with a team-best six assists.



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Women's Swimming & Diving Team Breaks Record


Photo Credit: RollTide.com



It was a record-setting day for the University of Alabama women's swimming and diving team as they opened the 2016 NCAA Championships in style. The Bama ladies broke the school record in the 800 freestyle relay yesterday at Georgia Tech's McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Crimson Tide women's head coach DENNIS PURSLEY said, "That was a good start to our week. It’s not just the school record, but the way they held up over the course of the race, with each of them swimming a strong back half." The relay team consists of senior EMMA SAUNDERS, sophomore TEMARIE TOMLEY, and sophomore MIA NONNENBERG. These three ladies combined to produce a time of 7:08.70, more than half a second better than the previous time set during the 2015 season.

Pursley continued, "I think this gives them a confidence boost. They swam strong throughout, so they should feel good about that and hopefully that bodes well for the rest of the week."

The Bama belles have broken three relay marks during the current season. At the Bulldog Invitational the 200 medley relay fell, followed by the 400 medley relay at the SEC Championships.

The 800 freestyle relay was yesterday's only event. The second day of competition gets underway today with a full slate scheduled. The Alabama ladies will be competing in the 400 medley relay, and Nonnenberg will be swimming the 200 individual medley. The action all gets underway this morning at 9 a.m. CT followed by the finals later this afternoon beginning at 5 p.m. CT.


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Track & Field Begins 2016 Outdoor Season


Photo Credit: RollTide.com



The University of Alabama men's and women's track and field teams begin the outdoor season today at the annual John Mitchell Alabama Relays held in Tuscaloosa at the Sam Bailey Track and Field Stadium. The meet is a three-day affair beginning today and lasting through Saturday.

Today's competition begins at 1 p.m. CT with the men's hammer throw, with the women's hammer throw scheduled for 4 p.m. CT to be followed by the women's javelin throw at 6:30 p.m. CT. Friday's track and field events begin at 5 p.m. CT, and Saturday's field events are scheduled for a noon CT start time.

35 schools will be represented this year at the Alabama Relays, ranging from junior colleges up to large universities. Those competing are: UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alabama-Huntsville, Allen County Community College, Auburn, Belhaven, Belmont, Georgia Tech, Hinds Community College, Jackson State, Jacksonville State, Lipscomb, Loyola-New Orleans, Memphis, Meridian Community College, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Mississippi, Mississippi Valley State, Morehouse, New Orleans, Ohio State, Samford, Southeastern Louisiana, Shorter, South Alabama, Southern Illinois, Southern Mississippi, Stillman, Troy, Tulane, UAB, Chattanooga and Wisconsin-Parkside.


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Bama Softball Set To Play In Easton Tournament

Photo Credit: RollTide.com



The Alabama softball teams enters week six of competition sporting a 22-4 record thus far in the season. The Crimson Tide ladies are in Fullerton, California for weekend action at the Easton Tournment to begin today and last through Saturday.

The Tide's first game is this evening at Cal State Fullerton with a 7:30 p.m. CT start. Tomorrow Bama faces two teams, beginning their day with Grand Canyon at 1 p.m. CT followed by New Mexico at 3:30 p.m. CT. Another pair of games awaits for Saturday to close out competition with DePaul first up for Bama at 12:30 p.m. CT, and then the No. 13/14 Oklahoma Sooners at 6 p.m. CT.