High Tide: Bama Women's Softball Wins; Tide Women's Golf In 8th; Crimson Tide Men's Tennis Falls To Sooners; Bama Women's Basketball Drops Decision To Florida; Kristy Curry Press Conference Following Florida Loss

Bama Women's Softball

Defeats Coastal Carolina 9-3

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

CONWAY, South Carolina – The University of Alabama softball softball team wrapped up a big season-opening weekend in Conway, South Carolina at the Kickin' Chicken Classic with a 9-3 win over Coastal Carolina. The Crimson Tide improves to 5-0 on the young season.

Bama batters scored nine runs on 16 hits to overcome an early 2-0 lead by Coastal Carolina (3-2). It was the Crimson Tide's Demi Turner leading the way with a career high with four hits, going 4-for-5 at the plate. Not far back were freshmen Bailey Hemphill and Gabby Callaway hitting a perfect 3-for-3 apiece. Hemphill banged a two-run home run in the fifth inning, her third of the season, and Sydney Booker pummeled the Carolina pitcher with her own two-run homer three batters later, now her second of the season.

Crimson Tide pitcher Madi Moore (1-0) earned the win throwing a complete game, striking out a career-high seven batters. Coastal Carolina starter Taylor Rahach (1-1) took the loss, going 3.0 innings with four runs allowed on eight hits.

Up next for the Tide will be Alabama's 2017 home-opener, hosting South Alabama (4-0) at Rhoads Stadium this Wednesday, February 15th. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT.

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Alabama Women's Golf In 8th Place After Day One At

The Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

PALOS VERDES ESTATES, California – The Alabama women's golf team is in eighth place after the first day of competition at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge on Sunday. The Crimson Tide women shot a 13-over par 296 at the par-71, 6,017-yard Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates, California. The UCLA Bruins currently sits in first at four-under par (280), USC is second at one-over par (285), Duke is third at three-over par (287). Florida is fourth at six-over par (290) and UNLV is fifth at eight-over par (292).

Alabama sophomore Lauren Stephenson is tied for 15th at one-over par (72), senior Cammie Gray is tied for 20th at two-over par (73), sophomore Cheyenne Knight is tied for 43rd at four-over par (75), freshman Kristen Gillman is tied for 56th at five-over par (76) and junior Lakareber Abe is tied for 73rd at seven-over par (78).

The Crimson Tide will be grouped with UNLV, Arizona State and Arizona in today's second round. Lakareber Abe will tee off at 11:12 a.m. CT, followed by Kristen Gillman (11:24), Cheyenne Knight (11:36), Cammie Gray (11:48) and Lauren Stephenson (noon).

Team Standings:

1. UCLA- 280 (-4)
2. USC- 285 (+1)
3. Duke- 287 (+3)
4. Florida- 290 (+6)
5. UNLV- 292 (+8)
8. ALABAMA- 296 (+12)

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Crimson Tide Men's Tennis Falls To Sooners

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

NORMAN, Oklahoma – The 14th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide men's tennis team 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at the Headington Family Tennis Center in Norman. Bama falls to 5-4 on the season, while Oklahoma improves to 7-1.

Alabama head coach George Husack commented, "Great effort from the guys, and belief gained with the match [yesterday]. We put ourselves in a position to win and that's the key. We were also better physically, mentally and emotionally than on Friday."

SINGLES RESULTS:
1. No. 92 Mazen Osama (Alabama) defeated Andrew Harris (OU) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
2. Alex Ghilea (OU) defeated No. 82 Thibault Cancel (Alabama) 7-6, 6-4
3. No. 105 Florin Bragusi defeated Spencer Richey (Alabama) 6-2, 6-0
4. Edson Ortiz (Alabama) defeated Adrian Oetzbach (OU) 7-6, 6-3
5. Jochen Bertsch (OU) defeated Ritchie Kruunenberg (Alabama) 6-1, 7-5
6. Amaud Restifo (OU) defeated Langford Hills (Alabama) 3-6, 6-1, 6-0

DOUBLES RESULTS:
1. No. 42 Andrew Harris/Spencer Papa (OU) defeated Mazen Osama/Spencer Richey (Alabama) 6-3
2. Alex Ghilea/Florin Bragusi (OU) defeated Zhe Zhou/Alexey Nesterov (Alabama) 6-3
3. Thibault Cancel/Edson Ortiz (Alabama) vs. Adrian Oetzbach/Adrian Chamdani (OU) 4-5, DNF

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Bama Women's Basketball Drops Decision To Florida

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The Alabama women's basketball team suffered another tough loss, dropping a 66-56 decision to the Florida Gators on Sunday at Coleman Coliseum in the Crimson Tide's annual Power of Pink/Play4Kay game. Bama now drops to 15-10 overall and 3-9 in the Southeastern Conference. The Gators improve to 13-12 on the season and 4-8 SEC.

University of Alabama women's head basketball coach Kristy Curry said, "The emphasis all week has been on just making sure that we do a great job of rebounding, boxing out and [being] fundamentally sound. We weren't able to do that. I think that any time in this league where you get out-rebounded by 20 and have 17 turnovers, you're going to have a hard time winning. So, we just continue to keep working at it."

The Crimson Tide was led in scoring by junior Quanetria Bolton with 14 points. Fellow junior Meoshonti Knight and freshman Jordan Lewis were both just one point back with 11 points apiece. Leading Bama in rebounding was junior Ashley Williams pulling down seven boards. The Florida Gators had two finish with double-doubles, senior Ronni Williams with 19 points and 11 rebounds as well as freshman Delicia Washington with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Alabama was 25-of-62 (40.3 percent) from the floor, while the Gators hit only 20-of-61(32.8 percent). The Tide hit 12-of-13 free throws and picked up 31 points from its bench. In the battle of the boards Florida hauled down 50 rebounds as compared to only 30 for the Crimson Tide.

Next up for Alabama, the Tide will host the Tennessee Volunteers this Thursday, February 16th with a 7 p.m. CT tip time.

Team Statistics