Kristy Curry nets 100th victory at Alabama with 111-56 blowout of Mercer

Sophomore De’Sha Benjamin scores 16 as Alabama women's basketball claims first home win of season

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama's Kristy Curry became the second coach in Crimson Tide history to earn her 100th win with a 111-56 victory over Mercer on Sunday afternoon. 

The team’s triple digit-score was the most points by a Crimson Tide team in a regulation game since 1994. The 55 point margin of victory was also the largest Alabama has seen since its season opener in 2017.

“I loved our team today,” Curry said. “That’s how we have been shooting the basketball and that’s who we expect to be. That’s who we see in practice and we really need build off that today. I thought the second, third, and fourth quarter at Clemson really fed into today. 

"Our bench was phenomenal. Credit to Hannah [Barber]. We have a lot of confidence in putting her in the game and she came in today and really made a big difference for us.”

Alabama grabbed a total of 46 rebounds, and 21 points came off second-chance opportunities. 

Alabama also tied a record for most 3-point shots during a game with 14. It shot 52 percent behind the arc.

Sophomore De’Sha Benjamin was 6-of-8 from the field for 16 points,  tying her career high set last season. 

Sophomore Hannah Barber also set a career high with 12 points, shooting 4-of-6 from the 3-point land. 

Sophomore Megan Abrams came in strong with a career-high of five assists and four rebounds.

Alabama started the game strong with a seven-point run before Mercer interrupted, making the score 7-2. A 3-point shot by Junior Jasmine Walker gave Alabama an eight-point lead, 12-4. Mercer made a comeback which briefly placed them in the lead 15-14. Alabama fired back before Mercer tied the game 17-17. The end of the first quarter is marked Benjamin scoring to make the score 20-17.

Alabama opened the second quarter with a successful shot from senior Cierra Johnson, holding the lead 22-17. Barber contributed with back to back 3-point shots which placed the Crimson Tide ahead by double digits, 30-19. Walker ended the first half with a 3-point shot, which created a 35-point lead for Alabama 61-26.

Junior Jordan Lewis made two free throws, holding Alabama in the lead (63-26) at the start of the third quarter. Walker put up another 3, which closed the third quarter with Alabama ahead 92-44.

Alabama kept extending the lead to 96-44. Benjamin pushed Alabama into triple digits, 100-47. Senior Amber Richardson scored the last two points for Alabama for the 111-56 final. 

The Crimson Tide travels to Mobile on Thursday to face South Alabama. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT.