Alabama Women's Basketball Advances to WNIT Quarterfinals with Win Over Houston
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The run isn't over yet.
After getting to host a WNIT game in Coleman Coliseum, Alabama took advantage of home court and got the victory over Houston on Thursday night, 79-64.
"It was definitely fun to play in Coleman, obviously my favorite place to play," senior guard Megan Abrams said. "The crowd was a huge factor."
For the second straight game, Alabama (20-13) played a team it had faced previously in the regular season. After avenging its regular-season loss to Tulane on Monday night, the Crimson Tide drew Houston, which it had defeated back in December, 77-67.
From the early minutes of the rematch, Alabama's offense was fluid and efficient, attacking both in the and beyond the three-point line. Six of Alabama's seven players who saw action in the first quarter scored, leading to a double-digit lead before the first quarter even ended.
The second quarter saw the script flip on its head in a major way.
Alabama had ran a matchup zone defensively from the opening tip and it caused Houston problems, forcing seven turnovers in the first quarter. From there, though, the Cougars utilized an inside-out offensive approach that led to interior baskets and open three-pointers on ball rotations, storming back from its deficit and even taking a brief lead.
Alabama would have trailed at the half if not for a three-pointer from Abrams at the buzzer.
At the half, it appeared that Alabama could run away with the game if it tightened up its defense, and it did just that.
The third quarter saw a 22-6 advantage for Alabama, with a 15-0 run for the Crimson Tide over four minutes in the middle of the quarter. The offense was once again spread throughout the lineup, as Alabama did an excellent job drawing contact and getting to the foul line.
"We had gone away from what we were doing early in the game as far as player tendencies," Alabama head coach Kristy Curry said. "We made sure we did a good job of making [Houston's] Blair uncomfortable."
Senior guard JaMya Mingo-Young proved to be pivotal in the third quarter run that won Alabama the game. Mingo-Young was active on both sides, of the ball, as she has been all season, and used her defense to make offense with steals and runouts or drawn fouls.
Houston (18-16) tried to make it interesting in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to as little as nine points with multiple three-point makes in succession. Alabama composed itself, though, hanging on for the win.
"We settled down a little bit. Got into out press break set and got everyone in their spots," Curry said. "Basketball is a game of runs, nothing is easy here in March."
Mingo-Young was the Crimson Tide's second leading scorer in the game, with 17 points on only three made field goals, going 9-12 from the free throw line. Abrams led Alabama in scoring with 18 points of her own.
"They've been consistent here down the stretch," Curry said. "I think when [Abrams, Mingo-Young, and Brittany Davis] are a 1-2-3 punch they're incredibly difficult to defend."
The win sent Alabama to WNIT quarterfinals, where it will visit South Dakota State on Sunday.
Gallery: Alabama vs Houston
