There are plenty of newcomers and older faces in different or bigger roles, but the numbers show the University of Alabama women’s basketball team has made strides.
All you have to do is ask sophomore guard Jasmine Robinson, who scored a career-high 24 points Sunday in an 80-76 victory against the University of Kansas at Foster Auditorium.
You also can ask senior guard Ericka Russell, who is working back to 100 percent and is watching teammates emerge. It’s an exciting process, especially when you consider Alabama lost at Kansas by 22 last season.
“When you get beat like that, of course you talk about it and it sticks with you until you play again,” Russell said. “We were talking about it this summer, and we wanted to play as hard as we can. We came out and played with a lot of energy and did what we needed to do and executed well. I am glad we talked about it this summer.”
Now the Crimson Tide (7-2) want to add to that momentum to stretch their winning streak to five. Alabama will try to accomplish that goal at 7 tonight when it plays at the University of North Texas.
Alabama rebounded from a loss to Old Dominion in its first game at the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to beat Seton Hall and Louisiana Tech. It beat Southeastern Louisiana before edging Kansas to extend the winning streak. Tonight’s game is the first of three in a row on the road. The trip will give Alabama a chance to build on a victory that saw it earn a 42-35 rebounding edge and hold a 48-38 advantage in points in the paint. Last season, Kansas outrebounded Alabama 41-35 and held a 48-18 edge in points in the paint in a 79-57 victory.
That loss dropped Alabama to 8-2 three games from the start of Southeastern Conference play. This season, Alabama has five more games remaining before it will open SEC play at 2 p.m. Jan. 1, 2012, at the University of South Carolina.
Russell, the lone healthy returning starter from last season, figures to be a key contributor. She was second on the team in scoring last season (11.4 points per game) and said she is comfortable not being in a lead scoring role because the 2011-12 Crimson Tide are deeper and more versatile.
“I think we’re progressing well as a team and getting better each day,” Russell said. “I thought (the win against Kansas) was a stepping stone for us as a team to build our program. I pretty excited about that as well.”
Robinson started seven games and averaged 7.4 ppg. last season as Alabama went 18-15 and reached the third round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. The addition of freshman Aneesah Daniels, who had a career-high 13 rebounds against Kansas, and junior guard Meghan Perkins, a transfer from Pensacola State College who had 17 points Sunday, are two reasons coach Wendell Hudson feels optimistic his program can take another step forward. Hudson points to the progression of junior guard Jessica Merritt, another transfer from Pensacola State, who is recovering from an injury. Merritt had 12 points in 23 minutes against Kansas.
All of those players will have to assume key roles to help Alabama make up for the absence of Kaneisha Horn, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the offseason. Horn, a 6-foot-1 sophomore forward, averaged 8.6 points and 5.7 rebounds in 33 games (28 starts) last season.
“I think we are where we wanted to be at this point,” Hudson said. “We also have played a tougher schedule. People are getting better and better and healthier and healthier and learning more.”
Hudson said the players have bought in to playing at an up-tempo pace. He hopes the depth allows his team to play tougher defense longer and allows it to dictate tempo so it can increase its scoring average from the 66 ppg. it averaged last season.
Hudson feels his team will be able to go nine or 10 players deep when everyone is 100 percent and play an even faster tempo than it did last season. Alabama is averaging 68.6 ppg this season. A 58-46 loss at Central Arkansas on Nov. 15 is the only game bringing that average down.
Hudson feels the win against Kansas will help push Alabama forward. He said the Crimson Tide rebounded well and showed the scoring balance he hopes will continue through the rest of the season. He said players like Robinson showed their maturity and helped Alabama earn a key victory.
“She has grown up so much and turned into a complete player,” Hudson said. “She understood (how to play) last year, but sometimes you just have to back off. A lot of times last year she felt she was getting fouled and she would react to that. This year, she is not reacting to it and she is playing through it.”
Hudson also said Daniels, a 6-foot freshman from Decatur, Ala., is a strong post player who is helping make up for the loss of leading scorer and rebounder Tierney Jenkins to graduation.
If all of the pieces continue to come together, Russell said the Crimson Tide will climb even higher.
“I think our two losses were kind of growing pains,” Russell said. “As we continue to get better, I think those losses will really help us and will help to keep us in check and to keep us humble. As people continue to get healthy, I think they will find roles on the team. I am pretty excited for the year.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.