Bama Women's Basketball Suffers Loss
Crimson Tide Falls To Wildcats 71-54
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
University of Alabama women's head basketball coach Kristy Curry said, "I thought that Kentucky really responded from their last game where things didn't really go their way. They responded. We didn't respond. We have to learn how to handle success. We have to understand that this is a league of consistency. I told our coaches I was so pleased with how energetic and how much effort and how much work and preparation (we put in), but we've got to have a team that learns how to follow at a different level."
Leading the Crimson Tide in scoring was sophomore Shaquera Wade with a career-high 24 points, connecting on 11 of her 13 attempts from the floor. She was also two-for-two from the free throw line, picked up six rebounds, two assists and one steal. Kentucky was led by Wildcat senior Evelyn Akhator with 29 points, 15 rebounds and three assists.
Alabama was 21-of-56 (37.5 percent) during the contest, while the Wildcats hit 27-of 56 (48.2 percent). This was only the third time this season that the Crimson Tide. The Wildcats led in that category 37-33.
Curry commented, "I thought that (Makayla) Epps and (Evelyn) Akhator showed great leadership and great energy. Akhator had 29 (points) and 15 (rebounds), and Ashley Williams, NeNe Bolton and Ashley Knight had 12 points and nine rebounds combined, so that's an energy thing with our posts, and then our starters (minus Wade) were 6-for-32 and shot 18 percent, so that's an energy and effort thing. We got outrebounded, and they made more free throws than we shot. That's another energy category, so I'm really disappointed tonight in our energy and our effort and our ability to understand that all that matters is the next game."
Alabama will host Arkansas this Sunday at Coleman Coliseum. Game time is set for 4 p.m. CT, and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
| Game Stats | UK | UA |
|---|---|---|
| FG% | .482 | .375 |
| 3FG% | .267 | .300 |
| FT% | .722 | .750 |
| RB | 37 | 33 |
| TO | 15 | 18 |
| STL | 8 | 10 |
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
-----------------------------------------------------
ArDarius Stewart Looking To NFL Draft
 |
| ArDarius Stewart Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - It would appear that University of Alabama wide receiver ArDarius Stewart is planning to forgo his redshirt senior season with the Crimson Tide in order to enter this year's NFL draft, according to the website, AL.com.
As a redshirt junior this season, Stewart had 864 yards on 54 receptions as well as eight touchdowns to the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. If you recall, Stewart missed three-and-a-half games this season due to injury making his numbers more impressive.
Stewart's two biggest games of the 2016 were against the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Auburn Tigers back in November. He combined receiving totals for those two contests were for 283 yards and four touchdowns on 18 receptions.
------------------------------------------------------
Here Are 4 Recruits Looking At The Tide
Alabama Football Recruiting
Here Are 4 Recruits Looking At The Tide
The University of Alabama right now has a pretty solid grip on the number one recruiting class for 2017 according to most of the recruiting services. With the addition of the following four, the Crimson Tide would be pretty much a shoo-in.
Aubrey Solomon
The Crimson Tide would do well to pick up this five-star DT out of Lee (Georgia) County. He had earlier committed to the Michigan Wolverines, but reportedly decommitted when it appeared they really didn't seem to know who he was. A fairly substantiated rumor has Michigan sending Solomon a thank-you card for an event he hadn't even attended. As if that weren't bad enough, the school or whoever was in charge of the cards had misspelled his name. Thus, he decommitted back in August.
An intensity of interest in the youngster came as the season began to wind down. Alabama seems to have the lead for his services, but don't count out Georgia and Michigan.
LaBryan Ray
This prospect is a home-state youngster who hails from James Clemons. He is listed by most recruiting services as a four-star defensive end, with some real quickness on his 6' 4", 260-pound frame. He has suffered with a torn Labrum this season, but that is expected to be taken care of rather quickly. The youngster has listed as his favorites Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss and Tennessee.
It should be noted that Ray already has two teammates committed to the Crimson Tide and are heavily recruiting him. Both tackle Kendall Randolph and corner Kyriq McDonald are Bama-bound and would like to have Ray join them.
Devon Hunter
Hunter is a four-star safety prospect out of Indian River (Virginia) who played both as a defensive back and running back in high school, yet is most likely purely a defensive prospect. He plans to name his choice January 20th, coming from a pretty good list consisting of Alabama, Florida, Auburn, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech and North Carolina.
Though he has not committed, many services believe that he may wind up at Virginia Tech.
Devonta Smith
This young man is a four-star wide receiver prospect out of Amite (Louisiana) that the Crimson Tide would love to pick up. He is not only a speedster, but had an excellent showing this past year at The Opening. He has speed, great hands, and great leaping ability, which would make him a definite asset in the Alabama offense. Alabama, LSU and Miami appear to be the leaders for his services.
Smith has really good rapport with Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Smith and seems to be leaning toward the Crimson Tide.
--------------------------------------------------------
Alabama Track & Field To Open 2017 Indoor Season
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
Worthy of note is that Crimson Tide senior long jumper Quanesha Burks has been named to the Preseason Women's Bowerman Award Watch List, the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced, The Bowerman Trophy is collegiate track and field's highest individual honor. The Watch List honor is the third for Burks, previously appearing in 2015 and 2016.
The Alabama men are ranked 17th and the women 22nd in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Preseason Indoor National Team Rankings to begin the 2017 season.
Speaking of the upcoming season, Alabama track and field head coach Dan Waters said, "We're excited for the start of the indoor season after putting in a lot of hard work this off-season. Both teams are highly motivated heading into the opening weekend, and I like where we stand overall. There are no sure things, and the only way to truly find out where you are is to compete against others, so that's what we are looking forward to most about this meet. We've got a balanced mix of experienced veterans and talented newcomers, so I really like the depth of the program this season."
