Friday, January 29, 2016

Women's Basketball Loses To Texas A&M; Gymnastics Team To Face No. 1 Florida; Softball's McCleney & Osorio Named Preseason All-SEC; Men's Tennis To Face 29th Ranked Seminoles Today; Nick's Kids Foundation Funds 16th House; Eight New Tiders Are Early Enrollees


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Women's Basketball

Tide Suffers Loss To 10th-Ranked Aggies 59-56

Photo Credit: RollTide.com


It was a gut-wrenching loss for the Alabama women's basketball team last night. After having put on a valiant defensive effort, the Lady Tide fell to the 10th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies 59-56 in Foster Auditorium. The loss drops the Crimson Tide to 13-8 overall, 2-6 SEC while the Aggies improve to 15-5, 5-2 SEC.

In a statement following last night's contest, Tide head coach KRISTY CURRY said, "That's a tear-filled locker room that I just left. On that I have a lot of respect and love for and a lot of appreciation because I thought they played their hearts out tonight to the No. 10 team in the country. I can say this. This program is headed in the right direction. It's a tribute to the character in that locker room."

Sophomore QUANETRIA BOLTON led the Tide with 16 points on the evening, the most against a conference opponent during her career. Bolton also led the Tide in rebounds with five. Also scoring in double figures for Bama was KARYLA MIDDLEBROOK. Middlebrook and MEOSHONTI KNIGHT led the team in assists with three each. 

Curry complimented the fans, saying, "Our crowd is doing a phenomenal job of being a great basketball crowd and making this the toughest home court advantage in the SEC. For that, our team just wants to thank them. We always look forward to being home. We've got games coming up here against Ole Miss and Auburn in the same week. We hope everyone will come back out and support us."

Up next for the Lady Tide is a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee to take on the No. 19/23 Volunteers. 

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Alabama Gymnastics


No. 5 Tide Battles No. 1 Gators In Gainsville


Photo Credit: RollTide.com

Today's gymnastics battle should be one of the best all season long for the 5th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide gymnastics team. The Lady Tide are in Gainesville, Florida at the O'Connell Center for an evening showdown with the No. 1 Florida Gators beginning at 6 p.m. CT. This will be Bama's fifth meet of the young season and the third away from home.

Tide head coach DANA DUCKWORTH said, "This is a wonderful rivalry and there’s nothing like an away meet when you know it’s going to be an intense environment and that you’re going up against the best. Our goal is to be the best and this gives us an opportunity to see where we stand."

The last five NCAA Championships and last seven Southeastern Conference titles have come by way of the Alabama and Florida gymnastics teams. Florida has captured the national title the past three consecutive years, with the Tide having brought home the hardware in 2011 and 2012. Alabama won the last two SEC Championships for a total of four: 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2015. Florida won three straight years: 2010, 2012 and 2013.

This season the Crimson Tide sports a 2-2-0 record while the Gators are undefeated with a 3-0-0 slate.

Following today's meet the Tide will return home to host the Kentucky Wildcats in the 12th annual Power of Pink meet on February 5th. 

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Softball's Haylie McCleney Alexis Osorio Honored
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Named Preseason All-SEC




Two members of the Alabama Crimson Tide softball team have been named to the Preseason All-SEC softball team. Senior HAYLIE McCLENEY and sophomore ALEXIS OSORIO were announced yesterday by the league office.

Eleven seniors, one junior and two sophomores make up the preseason team. Only four schools placed multiple players on the squad, of which Alabama was one. Incidentally, McCleney and Osorio were named All-SEC at the end of last season, and Osorio was honored as the league's Freshman of the Year. McCleney was honored as Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Congratulations, ladies!

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Men's Tennis Faces Seminoles Today

Photo Credit: RollTide.com


The Crimson Tide men's tennis team just returned from a trip to Florida, and today is right back. Perhaps this time the Sunshine State will live up to its name. Bama tennis (5-1) faces No. 29 Florida State this afternoon at the Scott Speicher Tennis Center. The match is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.

This past weekend's trip was not sunshiney and bright. Oh wait! Yes it was, the Crimson Tide won. Though the tournament was shortened by rain, the Bama men did well at the North Florida Invite. The Tide was 2-0 for the weekend, first defeating Miami 4-1 and then host North Florida 4-2. The contest with UNC-Wilmington was cancelled.

What does today's contest look like for the Tide? The Seminoles have Benjamin Lock, ranked 15th in the country, as well as Marco Nunez who is ranked 14th in doubles with Jose Garcia. Terrance and Terrell Whitehurst are the 55th-ranked doubles duo.

Alabama will then return home with No. 2 Oklahoma, Troy and Lipscomb next weekend.

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Nick's Kids Foundation Funds 16th House


Photo Credit: RollTide.com

A 16th home is coming...through Nick's Kids Foundation. The foundation is the official charity of the NICK SABAN family.

As a part of the 16 for 16 Project with Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa, Nick's Kids Foundation plans to build a new home to honor Alabama Footballs 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship. The Crimson Tide captured its 16th national title with a 45-40 victory over the Clemson Tigers back on January 11th.

In an issued statement, MS. TERRY SABAN said, "This project is a true testament of the limitless possibilities when our volunteers and Nick's Kids members commit to make a difference in the lives of others." Ms. Saban is the co-founder and CEO of Nick's Kids Foundation.

The new homeowners will be the Anthony Taylor family, consisting of Anthony, his wife, Angel, and two children, 12 year old Zion and 11 year old Zaria. Anthony works all night as a bus driver at the University, delivers newspapers and is studying to become a minister at Stillman College.

Anthony said, "I know if you stay true to God, his blessings will continue to come. Thank you to Coach Saban, Ms. Terry, their family, Nick's Kids and to Habitat for Humanity. Roll Tide!"

Habitat for Humanity Executive Directory Ellen Potts said, "With so many in need in our community, it is exciting that 16 families, displaced by the devastating tornado, now have a home."

Ms. Terry add, "We are so proud of our football team and grateful to them for allowing us to honor their efforts with this labor of love on House Sweet 16!"

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Eight New Tiders Are Early Enrollees


Photo Credit: RollTide.com

Eight student-athletes have begun classes at the University of Alabama. These eight will now be eligible to participate in spring practice with the Tide.

These enrollees include junior college offensive lineman CHARLES BALDWIN (Windsor, Connecticut/ASA College), linebacker CHRISTIAN BELL (Hoover, Alabama/Hoover), tight end MILLER FORRISTALL (Cartersville, Georgia/Cartersville), quarterback JALEN HURTS (Channelview, Texas/Channelview), defensive back SHAWN JENNINGS (Dadeville, Alabama/Dadeville), offensive lineman CHRIS OWENS (Arlington, Texas/Arlington), wide receiver T.J. SIMMONS (Pinson, Alabama/Clay-Chalkville) and offensive lineman JONAH WILLIAMS (Folsom, California/Folsom).