The University of Alabama women’s basketball team will tip off against the South Carolina Gamecocks Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Foster Auditorium. The team is looking to find a home field advantage and secure a conference win after three consecutive losses in SEC play.
The Crimson Tide, 12-10 overall (2-7 in conference), won its last game against Auburn two weeks ago. After losing to Vanderbilt, Georgia and Florida, the Tide needs to win this game to have a chance at postseason play.
South Carolina, ranked No. 15 nationally, aren’t as threatening as they look on paper. Coach Wendell Hudson said he feels confident this upcoming game will be different than previous games, but will hopefully give the Tide an overall advantage.
“South Carolina is a totally different team,” Hudson said. “They are really an aggressive defensive team. They don’t shoot the ball as well as Georgia shoots the ball, but they shoot it to rebound it. We’re going to have to do a very good job at blocking out and limiting them to one shot. They don’t worry about making the first shot. They are more concerned with shooting it, then sending four people to the offensive board. They are counting on somebody not blocking somebody.”
The last time Alabama beat South Carolina was in 2008. Regardless, senior Meghan Perkins said she doesn’t fear the Gamecocks’ ranking or the past losses.
“Rankings are just numbers,” Perkins said. “They are people’s opinions. We know that we are a good team and that we can beat them. A number means nothing to us. They are just another team in conference. They put their shoes on just like we put our shoes on.”
Members of the Tide said they would address the Gamecocks on gameday and adjust strategy as necessary.
“In basketball, there are only two shots you can get: either off of the dribble or off of the pass,” Perkins said. “You just have to defend those things. Like down screen, back screen or flat screen, you just have to defend those things. We just have to adjust to the way [they play].”
Putting the past behind them, Alabama is playing the game it plays and improving the way the team wants.
“[We’re] working on being a good team,” Perkins said. “We’re a good team. We’re that team that’s almost there. We want to get over the hump. So we have to push through and make ourselves better at practice so that when the game comes, it’s easy.”
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