| Dec. 5, 2003 Roadrunners to face Alabama Friday night Get the complete release (pdf) SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The UTSA women's basketball team (2-3) travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face the Alabama Crimson Tide (3-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Coleman Coliseum. |
UTSA Women’s Basketball Game Preview
• Game 6 •
UTSA Roadrunners (2-3)
vs.
Alabama Crimson Tide (3-1)
Friday, Dec. 5 • Coleman Coliseum • Tuscaloosa, Ala
.
LIVE COVERAGE
Live webcast on goutsa.com. Assistant Sports Information Director Erin Molina will handle the play-by-play.
UTSA TODAY
The Roadrunners enter the game with a 2-3 record coming off a 1-1 weekend at the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic held Nov.28-29.UTSA defeated Texas-El Paso 52-49 and lost to the University of Denver 58-55.After the trip to Tuscaloosa, the Roadrunners will be on the road for two more games at Southern Utah on Dec.16 and at Nevada-Las Vegas on Dec.19.
THE SERIES
UTSA faces Southeastern Conference foe Alabama for just the second time in program history. The Crimson Time defeated the Roadrunners last year at UTSA’s Thanksgiving Classic, 61-55 at the Convocation Center.
SERIES HISTORY
UTSA vs. Alabama
(Alabama leads 1-0)
H:0-1,A:0-0,N:0-0
11-29-02 ..........hL ................55-61
SCOUTING THE TIDE
Alabama is 3-1 on the season with their most recent victory coming against Jacksonville State on Tuesday. The 81-52 win was the Tide ’s 52nd consecutive non-SEC home victory. Freshman Navodnda Moore led UA with 12 points while freshmen Tamisha Hamilton and Kate Mastin and junior Monique Bivins all chipped in 11. Freshman Lauren Hill pulled down eight boards.
THE COACHES
Rae Rippetoe-Blair, in her fourth year with UTSA, is a two-time Southland Conference Coach of the Year (2001,2003).She is 52-39 at UTSA (57.1%)and 159-83 (65.7%)over a career that spans eight years. Her most recent coach of the year selection came in 2003 when she led the Roadrunners their first-ever SLC regular season championship. She is third on UTSA ’s all-time wins list.
Rick Moody is in his 15th season at Alabama with a record of 286-145 (66.3%). Under Moody the Crimson Tide has been to the post-season 11 of the last 12 seasons including eight trips to the NCAA Tournament, five “Sweet 16 ” finishes and a Final Four appearance in 1994. He is the all-time leader
for basketball wins - men’s or women’s - at Alabama.
LAST TIME OUT
Despite a double-double performance of 13 points and 11 rebounds by UTSA senior forward Dewella Holliday (Monroe City, Mo.), the University of Denver was able to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit to claim a 58-55 win over UTSA in the final game of the UTSA Women's Thanksgiving Classic Saturday night at the Convocation Center. Holliday, who led the team in scoring for the second night in a row, was also named to the all-classic team. Sophomore center Lacy Mingee (Piedmont, Okla.) chipped in 10 points, while freshman forward J.J. Risien (Dripping Springs, Texas) had nine for the Roadrunners.