Women’s basketball opens season in style against Samford

After an early end to last season, Alabama women’s basketball is back. In its 2020 opener, the team turned their gratitude for the season into on-court energy.

(photo credits: Alabama Athletics)

Alabama women’s basketball (1-0) turned heads in a 83-68 victory against Samford (0-1) Wednesday.

Alabama put on an offensive clinic Wednesday afternoon in Coleman Coliseum, capturing a season-opening win against Samford.

“Today was really good for us,” head coach Kristy Curry said after the game. “I really am proud of our effort and the fact that we won the game.”

Alabama came out of the gate strong scoring 28 points and having a 10-point advantage at the end of the first quarter. The Crimson Tide offense carried a steady pace, scoring 19 and 11 points in each of the next two quarters and capping the game off with 25 points in the fourth quarter.

Senior forward duo Jasmine Walker and Ariyah Copeland carried the Alabama offense, scoring 40 of 83 total points. Four of Walker’s nine field goals came behind the three-point arc, allowing her to finish with 22 points. Copeland scored inside the paint and finished the day shooting 88.9%.

The Alabama offense as a whole made 31 of 63 shot attempts. Walker was not the only one to score three-pointers for Alabama. The team got contributions from four other players and the team finished 11-27 behind the arc.

“I loved our offensive output,” Curry said. “I loved how we spread the ball around.”

Alabama’s starting five did not have the pressure of having to do everything for the team as it received contributions from the bench. The Alabama bench scored 15 points, which was more than the Samford bench.

Heading into the season it was a point of emphasis to improve upon the amount of second chance points given up as it came back to hurt the team in close games last season. Alabama put its best foot forward in this area combining for more second chance points, 17-13, than Samford.

Come conference play and the postseason, it will be important for Alabama to capitalize at the free throw line. Alabama showed composure at the free throw line in its season opener, going 10-11.

One of Alabama’s most unexpected contributions on the court came from junior guard Hannah Barber. Barber went 3-for-3 on the court, scored eight points, collected six rebounds and had four assists. But it wasn’t just the numbers Barber put up that caught the audience’s attention; it was the way she was able to take charge and settle down the offense.

Two of the keys for Alabama’s success Wednesday afternoon was effort on the defensive end. Alabama out rebounded, 37-34, and created more turnovers, 13-7, than Samford.

But Alabama must improve on its three-point defense moving forward. The defense surrendered 10 three-pointers to the Bulldogs and tallied 47.6% shooting from three-point range.

“We obviously need to defend and rebound better,” Curry said.

Senior forward Jordan Lewis is a player Alabama’s opponents will have their eye on throughout the remainder of the season as she has played a big part of Alabama’s offense in the past. Samford did its homework heading into the game. The Bulldogs were able to contain Lewis, who only scored eight points and was 2-for-10. Lewis will have to learn how to evolve her game to continue to be a key contributor to the offense.

Alabama will return to Coleman Coliseum afternoon, Nov. 29, and compete against the Houston Cougars. The game can be streamed on SEC Network and on the ESPN app.