High Tide: February 2017

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Bama Track & Field Nationally Ranked; Alabama Baseball Hosts Jacksonville State Tonight; Bama Softball Plays UAB Tonight; Crimson Tide Gymnastics Ranked Sixth Nationally; Alabama Rowing Teams Open Spring Season With Win; Alabama Soccer Opens Spring Schedule This Weekend

Latest Alabama Track & Field National Rankings

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Men No. 6, Women No. 7

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The University of Alabama men's track and field team has advanced by three spots to sixth place while the women edged up two places to seventh in the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Team Rankings released on Monday afternoon. The Bama men earned 82.96 points while the Crimson Tide women earned 82.82 points.

The men remain the top-ranked team in the South Region with 366.59 points while the women are third with 249.35 points.

Both teams fared well at the 2017 SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships in Nashville last weekend. The Alabama men finished in second place scoring 93 points, their best finish since 1984 and second-highest point total ever, at the SEC meet. The Tide women finished in sixth position with 51 points for their best placement since 2006.

The national team rankings are compiled by a mathematical formulae based on national descending order lists and data taken from previous seasons. The purpose and methodology of the rankings is to create an index that showcases the teams that have the best potential of achieving the top spots in the national team race. Ranking points do not equate with NCAA Championships team points.

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Alabama Baseball Hosts Jacksonville State Tonight

University of Alabama head baseball coach Greg Goff
Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The University of Alabama baseball team welcomes in-state foe Jacksonville State to Sewell-Thomas Stadium tonight. The Crimson Tide and Gamecocks first pitch is set for a 6 p.m. CT start. Fans can enjoy the game live on SEC Network+ with Eli Gold handling the play-by-play and Lance Cormier on color commentary.

Bama comes into tonight's contest at 1-3 while State enters with a 4-2 overall record. This will be the 36th meeting between the Tide and Gamecocks, with Alabama holding a 28-7 lead over Jacksonville State. UA holds a 24-4 advantage at home. Bama currently is riding an 11-game winning streak, with the Tide's last loss coming in March 2003 by a score of 5-3.

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Crimson Tide Softball Plays UAB Tonight

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - The Alabama women's softball team (13-2) faces UAB (5-8) this evening at 6 p.m. CT at Mary Bowers Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Crimson Tide is 19-0 versus the Blazers, with the last meeting coming February 16th of this past season. UA shut out JSU 7-0 in that contest.

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Crimson Tide Gymnastics Ranked Sixth Nationally

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The University of Alabama gymnastics team is ranked sixth nationally in the latest national rankings. The Crimson Tide now prepares for its last two regular-season meets of the season.

Oklahoma is still at the top of the heap, followed by LSU (2), Florida (3), UCLA (4) and Utah (5) rounding out the top five spots. Alabama is sixth, followed by Denver (7), Georgia (8), Oregon State (9) and Boise State (10) to round out the top 10.

Alabama is ranked fourth on the floor exercise, fifth on the vault and balance beam and sixth on the uneven bars this week in the rankings.

Junior Kiana Winston is eighth in the all-around, sixth on the floor exercise and 11th on the balance beam. Junior Nickie Guerrero is fourth on the balance beam while senior Aja Sims is 10th on the floor exercise. Senior Katie Bailey is 15th on the vault.

Alabama faces No. 8 Georgia in Atlanta on Sunday, March 5th, then returns home to Coleman Coliseum for its regular-season finale on Friday, March 10th against Iowa State.

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Alabama Rowing Teams Open Spring Season With Win

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The Alabama rowing team opened its spring season in convincing fashion by defeating Eastern Michigan this past weekend, sweeping the Eagles over 16 separate 1,000-meter pieces on the Black Warrior River.

Crimson Tide rowing head coach Larry Davis said, "I felt that the conditions were good and both teams rowed well. I thought that we were able to work on some of the things we've been trying to accomplish and we achieved most of our goals."

Bama's First Varsity 8+ "Cashman" crew posted its fastest time of the day in its first 1,000-meter piece with a 3:25.81 and also posted 3:29.57 in the fourth session. Alabama's Second Varsity 8+ "Mal Moore" crew won each of its four pieces, with its crowning achievement a 3:29.28 time in the fourth session. The Tide's second boat in the race, "Black Warrior", also turned in its fastest time in the fourth session in 3:34.99.

It was "Tenacious" winning its four races in the Third Varsity 8+ / Novice 8+, finishing near the 3:38.00 mark in three of the four. Its 3:38.28 finish in the fourth marked its fastest time of the day. Second-place "Courageous" turned in a time of 3:43.74 in session three for its fastest mark of the day.
Alabama raced three crews in the Varsity 4+, with "Synergy" winning the first two pieces before "Rammer Jammer" took the final two. A 3:55.8 in the first session by "Synergy" marked the fastest time for any boat in the event, while a 4:02.7 winning time in session three by "Rammer Jammer" was its best finish.

Davis again commented, "Overall I think we did well. It is always nice when you go out and win a lot of races but beyond that, there are certain things we want to do this time of year that will help develop boat speed for the end of the year and I think we will be able to do that."

The Tide will next head to Dublin, Virginia to battle Bucknell on Saturday, March 11th before returning to beautiful Tuscaloosa to face Dayton on Saturday, March 25th. The contest with the Flyers will be UA's senior day and its annual Power of Pink event.

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

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Alabama Soccer Spring Schedule

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – Let's get ready for some soccer!

The Alabama soccer team has officially released its 2017 spring schedule that features a total of 10 matches, according to University of Alabama head coach soccer coach Wes Hart.

The extremely short spring campaign consists of a total of five home matches, including a season-ending intra-squad scrimmage.

The UA soccer team will open its home portion of this year's spring matches in a doubleheader to be played this Saturday, March 4th against Southern Miss and Lipscomb. The Southern Miss match is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT, to be followed by the Lipscomb match at 1 p.m. CT. Both matches will be held at the Alabama Soccer Stadium.

The Crimson Tide will then travel to Greenville, South Carolina on Saturday, March 25th to take on Furman at 10 a.m. CT, followed by the match with Virginia Tech at 12 noon CT.

Alabama will then come back home to Tuscaloosa on Saturday, April 1st as it hosts Columbus State and Troy in a pair of afternoon matches that are set to begin at 1 p.m. CT and 6 p.m. CT, respectively.

It's then on to Memphis, Tennessee to take on the Memphis Tigers on Sunday, April 9th at noon CT in its only contest of the weekend.

Alabama then heads back to the state of Tennessee a couple of weeks later on Saturday, April 22nd to battle Wake Forest at 1:30 p.m. CT, and then West Virginia at 1:30 p.m. CT in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The Crimson Tide will then conclude its 2017 spring season with the Crimson/White match, which is an intra-squad scrimmage, beginning at 7 p.m. CT on April 28th at the Alabama Soccer Stadium.

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

Monday, February 27, 2017

Bama Baseball Loses To ORU; Alabama Baseball Press Conference; Crimson Tide Softball Caps Undefeated Weekend With Win Over UCF; Alabama Swimming & Diving Results; Tide Women's Basketball Falls To Mizzou; Kristy Curry Press Conference Following Loss; 2017 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament Bracket

Bama Baseball Loses To ORU 5-2

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – In Sunday's series finale, the Alabama baseball team fell to Oral Roberts University 5-2 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide now slides to 3-4 on the season.

University of Alabama baseball head coach Greg Goff said, "We can't let this weekend define our season. We got outplayed from a pitching, defensive, and timely hitting standpoint. Hopefully this motivates our guys and helps them understand that getting swept is not acceptable. We've got to come out tomorrow at practice and get better."

It was Cobie Vance leading the Crimson Tide in hitting, finishing three-for-four with one walk, while extended his hitting streak to seven games. Vance has now collected a hit in every game of the season for Bama and leads the Tide with 15 hits. Chandler Taylor produced a one-for-three night with one RBI, a walk and a run scored, while also picking up his team-leading fourth home run of the season.

Alabama hosts in-state foe Jacksonville State on Tuesday evening. Start time is 6 p.m. CT at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The game will air on SEC Network+.

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

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Bama Baseball Press Conference

Following Loss On Sunday To Oral Roberts University

Click HERE to watch press conference via Tide TV

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Alabama Softball Caps Undefeated Weekend

With 3-2 Victory Over UCF

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – It was a low-scoring affair on Sunday, but it was still a win. After posting some much bigger run totals at the beginning of the weekend, the Bama bats were slowed but still able to pull out a win on Sunday as the Alabama softball team defeated the UCF Knights 3-2 at the Easton Bama Bash.

Alexis Osorio (6-1) took the win for the Crimson Tide (13-2), allowing just two runs, one earned, while allowing just three hits with 14 strikeouts.

The Tide's Carrigan Fain was two-for-two on Sunday, and ended up with the honor of being named Easton Bama Bash MVP. She was 7-of-10 (.700) over the course of the weekend with two doubles, two runs scored and threee RBIs over five games. It was Bama's Reagan Dykes driving in two of the Crimson Tide's three runs on Sunday with a two-run home run in the second inning, her first home run of the year, while Claire Jenkins tallied the third with a third-inning sac fly.

Also earning All-Tournament honors with Fain were Bailey Hemphill, Chandler Dare, Merris Schroder and Sydney Littlejohn.

Alabama will next head to Birmingham for a matchup with in-stater UAB (3-8) on Tuesday. Game time is at 6 p.m. CT.

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Alabama Swimming & Diving Teams

Win In 1,650 Freestyle & Sets Numerous Career Bests

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

ATHENS, Georgia – The Bulldog Invitational is in the books, and the University of Alabama swimming and diving team closed it out with a win in the 1,650 freestyle along with several career-best times.

Crimson Tide freshman Daniel Kober won the men's 1,650 freestyle in a time of 15.09.02, by more than six seconds behind the runner up.

Bama senior Alex Gray took second place in the men's 100 freestyle in a time of 43.74. Freshman Kyle Maas posted a 1:44.95 to take second in the men's 200 backstroke after having posted a 1:44.31 earlier in the preliminaries. Maas' prelims time ranks him sixth all-time at UA.

In the women's 200 backstroke, it was sophomore Sarah Helm taking third with a time of 2:01.12. In the prelims, sophomore Katie Coughlin posted a 1:58.57 in the 200 backstroke.

UA junior Will Freeman took third place in the men's 200 butterfly with a time of 1:43.89, with Taylor Charles taking fourth place with a time of1:44.67. Both Freeman and Charles posted career-best times. Freeman's mark ranks him fourth all-time at Alabama while Charles' time ranks him sixth all-time.

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Crimson Tide Women's Basketball

Falls To Mizzou In Season Finale

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – It was a tough loss for Alabama women's basketball in Sunday's regular-season finale, falling 65-56 to 24th-ranked Missouri at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide ends the regular season with a record of 17-12 overall, 5-11 in SEC play. Missouri improved to 21-9, 11-5.

University of Alabama Crimson Tide softball head coach Kristy Curry said, "I thought our kids today really competed. We just came up short."

Crimson Tide junior Quanetria Bolton led Alabama in scoring with 13 points, with freshman Jordan Lewis just one point back with 12. Bolton also finished with a team-high six rebounds, with freshman Ashley Knight picked up four blocks to tie Yolanda Watkins for the most blocks in a single season at UA with 68. Watkins record has stood for 23 years, dating back to the 1993-94 season.

Curry commented, "This is a great honor for her (Ashley Knight). "It's given us a different dimension inside, to be able to overplay on the perimeter and be able to pressure more because we know we've got great help waiting there that can really change things at the rim. I know we will all be excited when she can get that one more block."

The Tigers were led by senior Sierra Michaelis with a game-best 22 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, eight rebounds and three assists.

"I'm glad and hope I don't get to see (Sierra) Michaelis anymore," said Curry. She is a great player, and she always does such a great job against us of really knocking down tough shots in tough moments in games, and I think that is a real credit to her today. I thought she was the difference maker for their team down the stretch. Playing well as a senior is what seniors do."

Next up for Bama, the Tide travels to Greenville, South Carolina for the 2017 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament. Games are set to begin on Wednesday, March 1st at 10 a.m. CT at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

**Team Statistics**
Game Stats	MU-W	UA
FG%	.404	.375
3FG%	.435	.214
FT%	.750	.680
RB	42	29
TO	13	8
STL	4	4

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

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Kristy Curry Press Conference Following Loss

Click HERE to watch press conference via Tide TV

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2017 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament Bracket

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Bama Softball Takes Two Wins; Alabama Men's Basketball Loses To Texas A&M; Avery Johnson Press Conference After Loss To Aggies; Tide Men's Tennis Splits; Alabama Athletics Spends $838,187 On Unlimited Meals; Tide Football Brings In The Moolah; Celebrity Birthdays; Tide Women's Basketball Hosts Missouri Today

Bama Softballs Takes Two On Saturday

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Wins Two By Shutout At Easton Bama Bash

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The Crimson Tide turned on the jets yesterday. Big time. The University of Alabama softball team scored a combined 17 runs in just 11 11 innings to defeat two opponents Saturday at the Easton Bama Bash. In the first contest, the Tide shut out Gardner-Webb by a score of 9-0 in just five innings before turning around and shutting down Texas Tech 8-0 in six innings after a big seven-run sixth inning.

Bama (12-2) out-hit its opponents 19-4 on Saturday, including five extra-base hits with 17 runs scored. It was the UA tandem of Demi Turner and Carrigan Fain putting out a four-hit performance between the two games, including a team-leading three RBIs by Fain. Merris Schroder tied Fain for the team lead in RBIs with three of her own, while Chandler Dare provided a 3-4 performance against the Red Raiders with a pair of RBIs.

The Crimson Tide's Madi Moore (2-1) pitched a complete-game shutout in the opener before Sydney Littlejohn (5-0), came through in a special senior day taking the win in the finale, with Alexis Osorio earning her second save.

Alabama will face UCF today to conclude the Easton Bama Bash tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. CT.

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

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Bama Men's Basketball Suffers Loss

Falls At Texas A&M 56-53

Photo Credit: UA Athletics/Robert Sutton

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – If there was any doubt before, and really, there wasn't, the bubble has burst. The University of Alabama men's basketball team fell to the Texas A&M Aggies 56-53 Saturday night at Reed Arena in College Station. The Crimson Tide clawed and fought back from a 13-point second-half deficit, bringing that lead to only two points in the final minute, but was unable to pull out the win, definitely being eliminated from any NCAA Tournament consideration.

The loss drops Alabama to 16-12 overall, 9-7 Southeastern Conference, while the Aggies improve to
15-12, 7-9 SEC. Of the 56 points scored by A&M, 26 came from the free throw line, hitting 26-of-37. The Tide hit only seven-of-nine from the charity stripe.

Bama junior Ar'Mond Davis led the Tide in scoring with 11 points, all scored in the second half. Junior Riley Norris was just one back with 10 points. Leading defensively for UA was senior Jimmie Taylor with seven rebounds and three blocks, as well as pumping six points offensively.

The Tide was 20-of-59 (34 percent) from the field, including 6-of-23 (26 percent) from behind the three-point line. The Bama defense was able to hold the Aggies to just 2-of-12 (26 percent) from behind the three-point line, and 14-of-45 (34 percent) from the field. Bama's bench came on strong, hanging 26 on A&M while the Aggie's bench was only able to muster seven points.

Alabama returns to the court on Wednesday night against Ole Miss, with a tip time of 7:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. This game will be the Tide's Senior Night, recognizing the UA men's basketball senior class prior to tipoff.

**Team Statistics**
Game Stats	UA	TAMU
FG%	.339	.311
3FG%	.261	.167
FT%	.778	.703
RB	37	37
TO	15	12
STL	5	6

Photo Credit: UA Athletics/Robert Sutton

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Avery Johnson Press Conference

Following Alabama Loss To Texas A&M

Click HERE to view Avery Johnson presser via Tide TV

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Tide Men's Tennis Splits

At Blue Gray National Tennis Classic

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – The Alabama men's tennis team captured one win and lost the decision in another yesterday at the 69th annual Blue Gray National Tennis Classic. The Crimson Tide (6-6) defeated Boise State 4-1 in the first match, but fell to Texas Tech in a 4-1 decision on Saturday. Bama posted a 1-2 mark during the two-day event.

UA men's tennis head coach George Husack said, "Good finish this morning against Boise State. We needed to bounce back after letting Virginia Tech slip away. And finally we needed to finish strong against Texas Tech. We competed our tails off, and it was a good battle. While we didn't get the result we wanted, we performed the best of the weekend tonight. Blue Gray has prepared us for conference and we are excited to kick off the SEC portion of our schedule at home on Friday."

Alabama 4, Boise State 1

DOUBLES:

1. Mazen Osama/Alexey Nesterov (Alabama) defeated Kyle Butters/Jack Heslin (Boise State) 7-6(2)
2. Spencer Richey/Edson Ortiz (Alabama) defeated Pedro Platzeck/Greg Wischer (Boise State) 6-3

3. Harvey Shackleton/Brian Tran (Boise State) defeated Thibault Cancel/Zhe Zhou (Alabama) 7- 6(7)

SINGLES

1. No 62 Mazen Osama (Alabama) defeated Kyle Butters (Boise State) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
2. Brian Tran (Boise State) Thibault Cancel (Alabama) 6-1, 6-4
3. Edson Ortiz (Alabama) defeated Jack Heslin (Boise State) 6-3, 6-2
4. Spencer Richey (Alabama) vs. Pedro Platzeck (Boise State) 7-5, 0-1 DNF
5. Zhe Zhou (Alabama) vs. Morgan Stone (Boise State) 4-6, 0-1 DNF
6. Alexey Nesterov (Alabama) def. Greg Wischer (Boise State) 6-2, 6-0

Alabama 1, Texas Tech 4

DOUBLES

1. Connor Curry/Bjorn Thomson (Texas Tech) defeated Spencer Richey/Mazen Osama (Alabama) 6- 2
2. Carlos DiLaura/Jolan Cailleau (Texas Tech) defeated Edson Ortiz/Alexey Nesterov (Alabama) 6-1
3. Hayes Brewer/Ritchie Kruunenberg (Alabama) vs. Jackson Cobb/Alex Sendegeya (Texas Tech) 6-4 DNF

SINGLES

1. No. 62 Mazen Osama (Alabama) vs. No. 54 Jolan Cailleau (Texas Tech) 6-1, 6-6 DNF
2. Connor Curry (Texas Tech) defeated Thibault Cancel (Alabama) 6-0, 6-4
3. Bjorn Thomson (Texas Tech) defeated Edson Ortiz (Alabama) 7-6, 6-2
4. Alex Sendegeya (Texas Tech) defeated Spencer Richey (Alabama) 6-4, 6-3
5. Zhe Zhou (Alabama) vs. Carlos DiLaura (Texas Tech) 7-5, 5-2 DNF

6. Alexey Nesterov (Alabama) defeated Jackson Cobb (Texas Tech) 6-4, 6-1

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Alabama Athletics Spends $838,187 On Unlimited Meals

An NCAA ruling back several years ago said that scholarship athletes were allowed unlimited meals. Recently the University of Alabama Athletic Department released the expenses for the unlimited food, and that amount comes to $838, 187 for the meals, according to information revealed by AL.com.

The Crimson Tide football team's total came to $512,656, nearly two-thirds of the total amount spent. Breaking the total down per athlete, it comes to $6,031 apiece. It should be noted that the amount spent by the women athletes came to $161,099, relatively small in comparison.

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Alabama Football Brings In The Moolah

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Remember that old song that goes, "We're in the money. We're in the money...."? That would fit the University of Alabama football program. The Crimson Tide is raking in the moolah, hauling in the dinero, tapping the...well, okay, you've got the idea.

Let's face it, winning brings in the millions. And under Alabama football head coach Nick Saban, Bama has, indeed, been winning. In 2016, UA has hit a new annual record in revenue...a whopping $103.9 million!

In a report from AL.com, it appears that means the Tide revenue was up 21.3 percent.

That translates into $47.7 million in profit for 2016.

According to Forbes, the football programs in The Southeastern Conference brought in a total of $476 million in the previous year though final numbers aren't available as yet for 2016.

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Celebrity Birthdays
February 26, 2017

Michael Bolton, Singer, 63

Johnny Cash, Singer, (1932-2003)

Juliet Simms, Singer, 30

Nate Ruess, Singer, 34

Kepler Pepe, Soccer player, 33

Taylor Dooley, Actress, 23

Carlos Esparza, Actor, 26

Teresa Palmer, Actress, 30

Alba Rico, Actress, 27

Tony Randall, 1920-2007

Danny Mac, Actor, 28

Max Lloyd-Jones, Actor, 25

Alex Heartman, Actor, 26

Beren Saat, Actress, 32

Morgan Brian, Soccer player, 23

Charley Webb, Actress, 28

Fats Domino, Musician, 88

Maz Jobrani, Comedian/Actor, 44

Leah Roga, Dancer, 15

Buffalo Bill Cody, (1846-1917)

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Crimson Tide Women's Basketball To Host

24th-Ranked Missouri In Regular Season Finale Today

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The University of Alabama Crimson Tide women's basketball team (17-11, 5-10 SEC) will play host to the 24th-ranked Missouri Tigers (20-9, 10-5 SEC) in the regular season finale today in Coleman Coliseum. Game time in beautiful Tuscaloosa is set for 2 p.m. CT.

Today's big promotion is Season Ticketholder Appreciation Night, allowing all UA women's basketball season ticketholders to pick up eight additional tickets for their family and friends. Other promotions for the contest are also planned.

This key Southeastern Conference game will air live on SEC Network + with Eli Gold handling play-by-play, Rick Moody on color analysis and Hannah Chalker with courtside information and updates. The game can also be heard on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Roger Hoover and Tyler Williams calling the action.

Today's game will be Alabama's third contest of the week. The Crimson Tide defeated the Auburn Tigers in a 63-61 overtime win on the Plains on Monday before falling to Georgia 75-61 on Thursday.

This will be the second meeting of the season between Alabama and Missouri. In the earlier meeting in Columbia, the Tide defeated the Tigers 59-58 at the buzzer, marking the first defeat Missouri has suffered on their home court this season.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Bama Softball Takes 2 Wins Friday; 4th-Ranked Tide Gymnastics Beats Boise State; Daniel Haugh Wins Men's Weight Throw With School-Record Toss; Crimson Tide Women's Basketball To Host Missouri; Bama Baseball Falls To ORU Friday

Alabama Softball Takes Two Wins Friday

At Easton Bama Bash

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – Friday was a good day for the Alabama softball team, scoring 11 combined runs in two victories at the Easton Bama Bash at Rhoads Stadium, shutting out UCF, 4-0, and then knocking off Texas Tech, 7-2.

The Crimson Tide (10-2) totalled 21 hits between the two games while at the same time holding UCF (4-5) and Texas Tech (7-5) to just three combined. Bama's Merris Schroder continued her hot hitting going 3-7 (.429) and picking up a home run in both games. Demi Turner also went 3-7 with a pair of runs scored while Bailey Hemphill went 4-6 (.667), with a perfect 4-4 performance in the game against the Red Raiders.

UA's Sydney Littlejohn (4-0) pitched a complete game two-hit shutout against the Knights, while Alexis Osorio (5-1) followed with with the win in the nightcap against Texas Tech, with a two-run home run as the only hit allowed along with 14 strikeouts, including nine-straight to start the game.

Alabama will continue play today at the Easton Bama Bash facing Gardner-Webb at 1:30 p.m. CT and Texas Tech at 4 p.m. CT.

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Fourth-Ranked Alabama Gymnastics

Defeats No. 12 Boise State

Dana Duckworth
Alabama Gymnastics Head Coach
Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The fourth-ranked University of Alabama gymnastics team battled to a big 196.925-196.675 win over 12th-ranked Boise State in Coleman Coliseum Friday night in front of 10,648 fans.

UA gymnastics head coach Dana Duckworth said, "Well I thought tonight was a bit of a battle. We definitely had ups and downs, but the girls kept fighting for every tenth and every routine and I was very proud of that. We made the decision to rest Kiana Winston, who has been a top all-arounder for us, and we still had a big score, which is very exciting."

Also included in last night's crowd was Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin as well as a host of tiara-wearing little girls for Princess Night. It was quite the sight.

Bama started the night with a 49.275 vault rotation led by senior Katie Bailey with a winning score of 9.925, as well as sophomore Abby Armbrecht with a career-best tying 9.875.

On uneven bars the Crimson Tide posted a 49.100, led by a 9.875 from senior Amanda Jetter, good for the win, as well as a pair of 9.825s from senior Keely McNeer and freshman Shea Mahoney.

Alabama scored a 49.150 on the balance beam thanks in large part to junior Nickie Guerrero posting a 9.9. McNeer led off the Tide's beam rotation with a 9.85, a score that Armbrecht matched for a career-best mark.

Armbrecht commented, "This was my first time getting to compete (on the balance beam) in Coleman Coliseum, and the last time I competed beam the crowd was nowhere near this big."

The Bama belles sealed the win on the floor exercise with a 49.400. Senior Aja Sims and freshman Maddie Desch posted a 9.925 each, sharing top honors in the event. Sophomore Ari Guerra posted a 9.875, tying Desch's career best and Guerra's total tied her season high.

Alabama will head to Athens, Georgia on Sunday, March 5th for its next meet. Start time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT to take on the Georgia Bulldogs.

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

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Alabama Track & Field

Daniel Haugh Wins Men's Weight Throw

With School-Record Toss

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The University of Alabama's Daniel Haugh led the Crimson Tide track and field men's team in the weight throw with a school-record effort while Stacey Destin and Haley Teel stepped up for the women by setting school records in the women's pentathlon and women's shot put, respectively, on Day 1 of the 2017 Southeastern Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships on Friday at Vanderbilt's Multi-Purpose Facility in Nashville, Tennessee.

In the men's team race, the Tide sits in fourth place in the men's team race with 21 points after Friday's events. The Georgia Bulldogs lead all teams with 30 points, followed by Arkansas at 27, Kentucky at 23, Alabama and Florida at 18 to round out the top five. For the women, Bama is fifth with 22 points. Arkansas leads with 48.5 points, followed by Georgia with 25, Ole Miss with 24.5 and Kentucky with 23.

UA track & field head coach Dan Waters said, "I thought we competed very well today, stepped up to the competition across the board, and ended up having the type of scoring we expected to get. I think the school records, numerous personal bests and the large number of all-time top 10 performances for us is indicative of that. I'm pleased with our attitude. We came to compete today and our people didn't back down. We are in very good shape in the points, relative to where we thought we would be. We have a chance to have a top-three finish in the men's standings, and maybe more, and our women's team is on pace for an upper division finish. I am proud of how we competed today, and looking for the same again tomorrow."

Haugh had already set the record twice this season, and ended up capturing the weight throw competition with a toss of 75-8 (23.06m), to become the first Alabama thrower to surpass 75 feet in the event. Destin was also able to surpass her previous school record in the pentathlon, finishing sixth in the women's pentathlon with 4,166. Teel completed the day in third in the women's shot put with a toss of 55-10 1/4 (17.02). The junior is the first women's shot putter to reach 55 feet indoors in Crimson Tide school history.

Bama student-athletes recorded a total of 19 performances on Friday ranked in the top 10 in school history in their respective events.

University of Alabama senior Quanesha Burks finished the day in second place in the women's long jump with a mark of 22-2 1/4 (6.76m). The effort is the second-best in school history and one of three in Friday's competition ranking in the top 10 in school history. That long jump competition feature the top three jumpers all exceeding 22 feet, the first time that has ever occurred in a collegiate women's long jump event.

It was Crimson Tide senior Lakan Taylor placing fourth in the women's pole vault with a personal-best clearance of 14-2 1/2 (4.33m). The mark is also the second-best in school history. Junior Alfred Chelanga finished third for the Bama men in the 3,000 meters with a personal-best time of 8:02.30, the seventh-fastest time in school history.

Alabama also advanced five men and four women to finals slated for today. For the men, it was junior Jereem Richards posting the fastest preliminary time in the 200 meters (20.70) to move on. Steven Gayle moved on in the 400 meters with a personal-best time of 46.28 while fellow senior Jacopo Lahbi qualified for the 800 meter final with a time of 1:49.32. Then it was junior Ruebin Walters (7.72) and senior Angelo Goss (7.75) moving on in the 60-meter hurdles.

Those advancing for the Crimson Tide women were Quanesha Burks in the 60 meters (7.31), Alex Gholston in the 400 meters (53.70), Kristyn Williams in the 800 meters (2:09.17) and Vanessa Clerveaux in the 60-meter hurdles (8.27).

Day 2 for the Tide of the SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships gets underway this morning when Destin competes in the women's high jump at 11 a.m. CT. Running event finals begin at 2 p.m. with Clerveaux in the women's 60-meter hurdles.

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Crimson Tide Women's Basketball
To Host No. 24 Missouri In Regular Season Finale

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The University of Alabama Crimson Tide women's basketball team (17-11, 5-10 SEC) will play host to the 24th-ranked Missouri Tigers (20-9, 10-5 SEC) in the regular season finale on Sunday, February 26th in Coleman Coliseum. Game time in beautiful Tuscaloosa is set for 2 p.m. CT.

Sunday's big promotion is Season Ticketholder Appreciation Night, allowing all UA women's basketball season ticketholders to pick up eight additional tickets for their family and friends. Other promotions for the contest are also planned.

Sunday's game will air live on SEC Network + with Eli Gold, Rick Moody and Hannah Chalker handling the call. The game can also be heard on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Roger Hoover and Tyler Williams calling the action.

Tomorrow's game will be Alabama's third contest of the week. The Crimson Tide defeated the Auburn Tigers in a 63-61 overtime win on the Plains on Monday before falling to Georgia 75-61 on Thursday.

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Bama Baseball Falls To ORU On Friday

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The Alabama baseball dropped to an overall 3-2 record last night falling 6-3 to Oral Roberts University at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Golden Eagles powered out three runs across the seventh and eighth innings to come away with the victory in the series opener of three games.

Crimson Tide baseball head coach Greg Goff said, "I thought that we got outplayed tonight in all facets of the game by a better team. We've got to be able to manufacture runs and get situational hits, especially on Friday night. Tonight, we had some things that hopefully our players will learn from moving forward. I know our guys are going to be excited about coming out here tomorrow and trying to even up the series against a good Oral Roberts team."

Bama's Keith Holcombe and Cody Henry, both finished 2-for-4 with a run scored on the night, while Holcombe contributed an RBI. Cobie Vance led the Tide in RBIs, finishing with two on the night, while also picking up his first career triple as part of his 1-for-4 effort.

The two teams return to action this afternoon in the second game of the series. Start time is slated for a 2 p.m. CT first pitch. Righty Jake Walters will start for Bama.

Photo Credit: UA Athletics